Scranton, Pennsylvania's skyline- --Scranton, Pennsylvania-- is the largest city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania- 2014-07-07 21-52 · Christopher Seliga / CC BY-SA 3.0Scranton Iron Furnaces in Scranton, PA · JJonahJackalope / CC BY-SA 4.0Lackawanna Coal Mine · Mrosen99 / CC BY-SA 4.0Everhart Museum · Jeffrey from Dunmore, PA / CC BY-SA 2.0
Scranton is a mid-sized city of 76,119 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $48,776
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Scranton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Scranton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Scranton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.0
Scranton's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Scranton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Scranton, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$125,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$933
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,776
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Scranton's violent crime rate is 281.4 per 100,000 residents
— 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
281.4 /100k
Property Crime
1345.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Scranton is served primarily by Scranton SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Scranton, PA
National Avg
School District
Scranton SD
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Scranton sees average highs of 35.7°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.1 inches of snow per year.
Scranton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Scranton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $125,700 and median rent is $933/month.
Scranton's violent crime rate is 281.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1345.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Scranton are operated by Scranton SD.
The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Scranton, PA has a population of 76,119, a median household income of $48,776, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Scranton averages 35.7°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches
with about 45.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Scranton, PA is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 18505, 18504, 18508, 18509, 18510, 18503.
The population of Scranton, Pennsylvania is 76,119 with a median age of 37.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Scranton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $125,700, median household income $48,776, crime index 70 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Scranton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
