Below Average CostSafer than AverageWilkes-Barre Area SD
Downtown Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna River · Umrok / CC BY-SA 4.016 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · David Wilson / CC BY 2.0LuzerneCountyCourthouseRiverCommons · Vasiliymeshko of English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Birds eye view of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (2675064226) · http://maps.bpl.org / CC BY 2.0
Wilkes-Barre is a small city of 44,123 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $46,597
and a 8.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wilkes-Barre stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wilkes-Barre is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wilkes-Barre 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
Wilkes-Barre's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wilkes-Barre costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wilkes-Barre, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$98,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$897
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
47.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,597
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Wilkes-Barre's violent crime rate is 431.6 per 100,000 residents
— 14% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
431.6 /100k
Property Crime
1556.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wilkes-Barre is served primarily by Wilkes-Barre Area SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.7:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wilkes-Barre, PA
National Avg
School District
Wilkes-Barre Area SD
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wilkes-Barre sees average highs of 35.7°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 45.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.1 inches of snow per year.
Wilkes-Barre's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wilkes-Barre roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $98,200 and median rent is $897/month.
Wilkes-Barre's violent crime rate is 431.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1556.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wilkes-Barre are operated by Wilkes-Barre Area SD.
The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.7:1. 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wilkes-Barre, PA has a population of 44,123, a median household income of $46,597, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%.
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.
Wilkes-Barre averages 35.7°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.4 inches
with about 45.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wilkes-Barre, PA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 18702, 18705, 18701.
The population of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is 44,123 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wilkes-Barre: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $98,200, median household income $46,597, crime index 98 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wilkes-Barre side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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