United States › Pennsylvania › Wilkes-Barre CITY · 1990 CENSUS
Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania · 47,523 residents · 6.85 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Wilkes-Barre is a city of 47,523 people in Pennsylvania. Households here earn about 33% less than in Pennsylvania as a whole. Median home value sits at $43,600. 53% of homes are owner-occupied. At a median age of 37.0, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.0
US median: 33.0
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 12%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 38.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
40K 42K 44K 46K 48K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Wilkes-Barre Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $19,525
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $26,711 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $15,050 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 17.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$43,600
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $65,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$317
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $411 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 53.5% in 2000
47.3% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.4%(39,433)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(683)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 96.1%(45,684)
Hispanic / Latino 0.5%(215)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data vs 12.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 76.8% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 4.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 51.6%(9,240)
Women 15+
Never married 46.5%(8,704)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 13.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 46.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 35.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 56.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 49.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17%(304)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.8%(265)
Share of the 1,786 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Wilkes-Barre Head to head
Compare Wilkes-Barre to nearby cities WILKES-BARRE VS
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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WILKES-BARRE VS
Mountain Top
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania? Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has about 47,523 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania? The typical household in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania earns about $19,525 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 $43,600, and the typical rent is about $317 a month.
How educated are people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania? About 12.9% 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 15.4% of people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.
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