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CITY

Wilkes-Barre

Pennsylvania · 44,523 residents (2025 est.) · 6.848 sq mi
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The short version

Wilkes-Barre has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,515. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $117,200. At a median age of 34.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 38% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
44,423
+3%since 2000
from 43,123 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,487 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 6,297 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.7
−11%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:44,523 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
40K42K44K46K48K1990201020202024Wilkes-Barre
202444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,515
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,711 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,979
+73%since 2000
from $15,050 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.9%
+15.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 17.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance10.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$117,200
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$946
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
51.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 53.5% in 2000
48.8% rent
Vacancy rate
15.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.4%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
−1%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilkes-Barre on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(39,433)
Black4.9%(2,129)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(683)
Asian0.8%(342)
Other0%
Diversity Score17.5%(7,537)
2024
White, non-Hispanic50.5%(22,442)
Black9.7%(4,317)
Hispanic / Latino33.8%(14,997)
Asian1.6%(712)
Other4.4%(1,955)
Diversity Score77.4%(34,382)
Diversity Score
77
+343%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.3%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.7 min
+78%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
17.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 56.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−31.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
16.9%
+13.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.2%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 15.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.4%
−77.5 ptssince 2013
from 86.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.2%
+18.4 ptssince 2017
from 66.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
72.2%
−12.6 ptssince 2016
from 84.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
24.0%
+12.7 ptssince 2016
from 11.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has about 44,423 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania earns about $48,515 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $117,200, and the typical rent is about $946 a month.

How educated are people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

About 23.1% of people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,100 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →