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CITY · 2010 ACS

Wilkes-Barre

Pennsylvania · 41,498 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 $29,518. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $77,700. The poverty rate of 25.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 36.5
US median: 37.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
More affordable
home values down 6%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
41,498
−4%since 2000
from 43,123 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
36.5
−6%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
40K42K44K46K48K1990201020202024Wilkes-Barre
202444K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55.7%(2,381)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95.4%(2,236)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 145.4%(2,245)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 198.5%(3,536)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2410.9%(4,516)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3412.5%(5,187)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4411.4%(4,726)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5413.1%(5,441)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6410.8%(4,493)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 746.9%(2,881)
US avg: 7%
75 to 846%(2,510)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over3.2%(1,346)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$29,518
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,711 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,712
+11%since 2000
from $15,050 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
14.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
25.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 17.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information15.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade12.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.9%
Wholesale trade3.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$77,700
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$581
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
28.4%
−25.1 ptssince 2000
from 53.5% in 2000
51.1% rent
Vacancy rate
14.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
28.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.6
+1%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2010
White, non-Hispanic74.9%(31,069)
Black10.1%(4,211)
Hispanic / Latino11.3%(4,690)
Asian1.4%(579)
Other2.4%(1,015)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.3%(1,382)
Puerto Rican2.9%(1,209)
Dominican0.9%(372)
Colombian0.4%(147)
Cuban0.1%(39)
Spaniard0.1%(37)
Panamanian0.1%(31)
Uruguayan0%(15)
Peruvian0%(13)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Ancestry
Irish21.8%(9,075)
Polish19.4%(8,088)
German17.8%(7,408)
Italian12.3%(5,097)
Welsh5.6%(2,318)
English5.3%(2,186)
Slovak3.6%(1,497)
Russian3.4%(1,417)
Lithuanian2.7%(1,109)
American2.2%(916)
Dutch1.5%(644)
Scottish1.5%(609)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Arab1.4%(588)
French1.2%(482)
Ukrainian1.1%(437)
Hungarian0.9%(392)
Haitian0.8%(335)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(325)
Lebanese0.8%(320)
Greek0.5%(225)
Swedish0.4%(177)
Syrian0.4%(163)
Austrian0.3%(142)
Czech0.3%(117)
British0.2%(95)
Romanian0.2%(87)
Nigerian0.2%(80)
Jamaican0.1%(62)
Danish0.1%(61)
Norwegian0.1%(40)
Portuguese0.1%(33)
Swiss0.1%(25)
Croatian0.1%(21)
Canadian0%(17)
Iranian0%(8)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest Welsh population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
83.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.7 min
+52%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
69.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
16.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
3.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
7.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
22.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
23.8%
−35.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
4.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.4%
−36.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married51.6%(9,240)
Married36%(6,456)
Widowed4.1%(743)
Divorced8.2%(1,476)
Women 15+
Never married46.5%(8,704)
Married32.4%(6,063)
Widowed9.6%(1,803)
Divorced11.4%(2,134)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Wilkes-Barre to nearby cities

WILKES-BARRE VS
Kingston
Income$55,347+88%
Home value$172,900+123%
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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Home value$108,100+39%
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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Income$109,535+271%
Home value$297,700+283%
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WILKES-BARRE VS
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Income$71,302+142%
Home value$196,100+152%
Population14,249−68%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has about 41,498 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania earns about $29,518 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 $77,700, and the typical rent is about $581 a month.

How educated are people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania?

About 14.5% 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 25.4% 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 6,025 residents, a change of about -13 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 →