Wilkes-Barre, PA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Summary

Life in Wilkes-Barre research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Wilkes-Barre over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Wilkes-Barre:

  • The population in Wilkes-Barre is 44,217.

  • The median home value in Wilkes-Barre is $174,331.

  • The median income in Wilkes-Barre is $47,970.

  • The cost of living in Wilkes-Barre is 84 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Wilkes-Barre is $939.

  • The unemployment rate in Wilkes-Barre is 8.3%.

  • The poverty rate in Wilkes-Barre is 21.1%.

  • The average high in Wilkes-Barre is 60.3° and the average low is 40.4°.

Wilkes-Barre SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9.5
Education
5
Commute
9

Wilkes-Barre, PA Crime Report

Crime in Wilkes-Barre summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Wilkes-Barre. Key points include:

  • There were 880 total crimes in Wilkes-Barre in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Wilkes-Barre is 1,988.5 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Wilkes-Barre is 431.6 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Wilkes-Barre is 1,556.9 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Wilkes-Barre is -6.17% below the national average.

880
Total Crimes
-6.17%
Below National Average

Crime In Wilkes-Barre Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Wilkes-Barre
/ 100k People
Pennsylvania
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 880 1,988.5 1,680.6 2,119.2
Violent Crime 191 431.6 245.6 359.0
Murder 4 9.0 5.0 5.0
Robbery 25 56.5 51.4 61.0
Aggravated Assault 143 323.1 161.4 256.0
Property Crime 689 1,556.9 1,435.0 1,760.0
Burglary 73 165.0 116.7 229.0
Larceny 567 1,281.2 1,129.8 1,272.0
Car Theft 49 110.7 188.5 259.0

Wilkes-Barre, PA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Wilkes-Barre summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Wilkes-Barre. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Pennsylvania. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Wilkes-Barre is 84 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Wilkes-Barre is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Wilkes-Barre is $174,331.

  • The median income in Wilkes-Barre is $47,970.

84
Wilkes-Barre's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Wilkes-Barre Comparison Table

Living Expense Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 84 100 100
Services 97 101 100
Groceries 101 101 100
Health 90 95 100
Housing 51 93 100
Transportation 110 108 100
Utilities 104 108 100

Wilkes-Barre, PA Weather

  • The average high in Wilkes-Barre is 60.3° and the average low is 40.4°.

  • There are 76.6 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 41.0 inches of precipitation each year with 33.4 inches of snow.

StatWilkes-Barre
Average Annual High60.3
Average Annual Low40.4
Annual Precipitation Days76.6
Average Annual Precipitation41.0
Average Annual Snowfall33.4
60.3°
Average High
76.6
Days of Rain

Wilkes-Barre, PA Photos

Wilkes Barre Downtown
Source: Wikipedia User Vasiliy Meshko | CC BY-SA 3.0
Wilkes Barre Panorama
Source: Wikipedia User Vasiliy Meshko | CC BY-SA 3.0
Wilkes Barre With Susquehanna River
Source: Wikipedia User The original uploader was | CC BY 2.5
Wilkes Barrenight
Source: Wikipedia | CC-BY-2.5
Wilkes Barre
Source: Public Domain
Child Labor In United Statesc Coal Mines Pennsylvania
Source: Wikipedia User Janet Lindenmuth | CC BY-SA 2.0
South Main Streetc From Public Squarec Wilkes Barrec Pa
Source: Public Domain
Luzernecountycourthouserivercommons
Source: Wikipedia User Vasiliymeshko of English | CC BY-SA 3.0
Kavp Terminals
Source: Wikipedia User Vasiliy Meshko | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania

Locations Around Wilkes-Barre

Map Of Wilkes-Barre, PA

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3

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4

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5

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6

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7

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8

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9

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10

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Wilkes-Barre Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Wilkes-Barre

The current population in Wilkes-Barre is 44,217. The population has increased 6.3% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 44,217 0.2%
2022 44,123 0.1%
2021 44,086 8.0%
2020 40,805 -0.2%
2019 40,867 0.0%
2018 40,847 -
2017 0 -100.0%
2016 40,964 -0.4%
2015 41,108 -0.2%
2014 41,202 -0.4%
2013 41,374 -0.2%
2012 41,463 -0.2%
2011 41,557 -0.1%
2010 41,595 -

Race / Ethnicity in Wilkes-Barre

White
51.9% (22,940)
African American
11.7% (5,153)
American Indian
0.0% (11)
Asian
2.1% (920)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.2% (86)
Two Or More
3.6% (1,574)
Hispanic
30.6% (13,533)

Wilkes-Barre is:

  • 51.9% White with 22,940 White residents.

  • 11.7% African American with 5,153 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 11 American Indian residents.

  • 2.1% Asian with 920 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 86 Other residents.

  • 3.6% Two Or More with 1,574 Two Or More residents.

  • 30.6% Hispanic with 13,533 Hispanic residents.

Race Wilkes-Barre PA USA
White 51.9% 73.8% 58.2%
African American 11.7% 10.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.1% 0.5%
Asian 2.1% 3.7% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 3.6% 3.3% 3.9%
Hispanic 30.6% 8.4% 19.0%

Gender in Wilkes-Barre

Female
51.2% (22,658)
Male
48.8% (21,559)
  • Wilkes-Barre is 51.2% female with 22,658 female residents.

  • Wilkes-Barre is 48.8% male with 21,559 male residents.

Gender Wilkes-Barre PA USA
Female 51.2% 50.7% 50.5%
Male 48.8% 49.3% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Wilkes-Barre for adults over 25

  • 7.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed < 9th grade.

  • 9.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed 9-12th grade.

  • 39.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed high school / ged.

  • 16.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed associate's degree.

  • 13.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed bachelor's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Wilkes-Barre completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
7.0% (3,095)
9-12th Grade
9.0% (3,979)
High School / GED
39.0% (17,244)
Some College
16.0% (7,074)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (4,421)
Bachelor's Degree
13.0% (5,748)
Master's Degree
4.0% (1,768)
Professional Degree
1.0% (442)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (442)
Education Wilkes-Barre PA USA
< 9th Grade 7.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 9.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 39.0% 33.0% 26.0%
Some College 16.0% 15.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 9.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 13.0% 21.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 4.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

  • 8.9% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.3% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 10.9% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 11.0% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 15.9% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 16.4% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.1% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 10.4% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 3.6% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 3.5% of households in Wilkes-Barre earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
8.9% (395,597)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.3% (232,331)
$15,000 to $24,999
10.9% (482,391)
$25,000 to $34,999
11.0% (487,683)
$35,000 to $49,999
15.9% (703,079)
$50,000 to $74,999
16.4% (723,454)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.1% (623,959)
$100,000 to $149,999
10.4% (460,163)
$150,000 to $199,999
3.6% (157,180)
$200,000 or more
3.5% (155,857)
Income Wilkes-Barre PA USA
Less than $10,000 8.9% 4.8% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.3% 3.7% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.9% 7.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 11.0% 7.1% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 15.9% 10.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 16.4% 16.1% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.1% 12.9% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 10.4% 17.6% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 3.6% 9.0% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 3.5% 11.1% 12.6%

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