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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Wilkes-Barre

Pennsylvania · 43,123 residents · 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 $26,711. Population has declined 9% since 1990. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $65,500. Households here earn about 33% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
43,123
−9%since 1990
from 47,523 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
38.8
+5%since 1990
from 37.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
40K42K44K46K48K1990201020202024Wilkes-Barre
202444K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.9%(2,113)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.5%(2,377)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.9%(2,548)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.6%(3,292)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 248.5%(3,680)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.3%(5,324)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.8%(5,942)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412.1%(5,202)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.7%(3,761)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 749.5%(4,076)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 848%(3,457)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over3.1%(1,351)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,711
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,525 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,050
+43%since 1990
from $10,513 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
17.8%
+2.4 ptssince 1990
from 15.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$65,500
+14%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $43,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$411
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $317 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
53.5%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 52.7% in 1990
46.5% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilkes-Barre on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(45,684)
Black2.9%(1,391)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(215)
Asian0.6%(263)
2000
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(39,433)
Black4.9%(2,129)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(683)
Asian0.8%(342)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Dominican14%(6,205)
Mexican7.9%(3,498)
Puerto Rican6.4%(2,856)
South American3.3%(1,466)
Colombian1.4%(620)
Ecuadorian1.3%(556)
Honduran0.6%(276)
Spaniard0.5%(218)
Uruguayan0.4%(163)
Argentine0.2%(78)
Panamanian0.1%(55)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(36)
Cuban0.1%(31)
Salvadoran0.1%(26)
Costa Rican0.1%(25)
Peruvian0%(13)
Asian origin
Hmong0.6%(245)
Asian Indian0.2%(108)
Filipino0.2%(99)
Chinese0.1%(63)
Korean0.1%(63)
Pakistani0.1%(33)
Japanese0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
Irish13.6%(6,022)
Polish10.3%(4,576)
German8.6%(3,823)
Italian8.2%(3,654)
English3.6%(1,590)
Welsh3.1%(1,392)
American2.5%(1,095)
Slovak1.7%(759)
Lithuanian1.7%(734)
Russian1.6%(700)
West Indian1.5%(658)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Arab1.3%(566)
Jamaican0.9%(416)
Dutch0.8%(363)
Lebanese0.7%(326)
Scottish0.6%(260)
French0.6%(245)
Ukrainian0.5%(210)
Syrian0.4%(198)
Nigerian0.4%(188)
Haitian0.4%(172)
Swedish0.2%(96)
Greek0.2%(90)
Portuguese0.2%(90)
Austrian0.2%(88)
Guyanese0.2%(86)
Hungarian0.2%(73)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(69)
Swiss0.1%(53)
Czech0.1%(47)
Brazilian0.1%(32)
Egyptian0.1%(31)
Kenyan0.1%(27)
British0.1%(26)
Croatian0.1%(23)
Romanian0%(21)
Iranian0%(16)
Norwegian0%(15)
Canadian0%(10)
Ethiopian0%(10)
Slovene0%(9)
Finnish0%(5)
Belgian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest Dominican population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.8%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 12.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
76.8%
+7.3 ptssince 1990
from 69.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
4.7%
Unchangedsince 1990
from 4.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.7 min
−17%since 1990
from 14.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.7%(6,324)
Married49.2%(8,465)
Widowed5.5%(939)
Divorced8.7%(1,494)
Women 15+
Never married31%(5,837)
Married40.8%(7,686)
Widowed19%(3,587)
Divorced9.2%(1,724)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Compare Wilkes-Barre to nearby cities

WILKES-BARRE VS
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Income$55,347+107%
Home value$172,900+164%
Population13,462−70%
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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Income$57,462+115%
Home value$108,100+65%
Population10,712−76%
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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Income$109,535+310%
Home value$297,700+355%
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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Income$71,302+167%
Home value$196,100+199%
Population14,249−68%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has about 43,123 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania earns about $26,711 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 $65,500, and the typical rent is about $411 a month.

How educated are people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

About 12.8% 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 17.8% 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 4,400 residents, a change of about -9 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 →