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COUNTY

Lackawanna County

Pennsylvania · 216,502 residents (2025 est.) · 459 sq mi
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The short version

Lackawanna County is home to 216,146 people in Pennsylvania. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $201,800. The foreign-born share is 7%. Median rent is $1,007 a month. 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. That trails the Pennsylvania median by roughly 15%.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $66,223, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Lackawanna County

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$163,205 → $201,800 (+24%)US over the same years: +67%

Among the 67 counties in Pennsylvania

  • 35th in household income$66,223
  • 17th in share with a bachelor's degree30.6%
  • 35th in home value$201,800
  • 17th in diversity score44.0
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
216,146
+1%since 2000
from 213,295 in 2000
216,502 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
471 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 465 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.9
+4%since 2000
from 40.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
459 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
208K211K214K217K220K19902000201020202024Lackawanna County
2024216K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(10,847)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(11,743)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(13,445)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(14,378)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.1%(13,137)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.1%(26,070)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(26,443)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(25,997)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.7%(29,676)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(25,414)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846%(12,935)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(6,061)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,223
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,438 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,168
+99%since 2000
from $18,710 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.4%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+3%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$201,800
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,007
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 67.6% in 2000
34.6% rent
Vacancy rate
11.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.35 people
+2%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.4%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+1%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
44
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(204,560)
Black1.2%(2,662)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(2,958)
Asian0.7%(1,582)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.6%(172,120)
Black3%(6,433)
Hispanic / Latino9.8%(21,190)
Asian3%(6,443)
Other4.6%(9,960)
Diversity Score
44
+171%since 2009
from 16 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
−10%since 2020
from 40 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican4.2%(9,068)
Dominican1.8%(3,861)
Mexican1.2%(2,685)
Central American1.1%(2,434)
Honduran0.7%(1,493)
South American0.7%(1,463)
Ecuadorian0.2%(482)
Salvadoran0.2%(461)
Cuban0.2%(418)
Colombian0.2%(351)
Spaniard0.1%(226)
Nicaraguan0.1%(225)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Argentine0.1%(154)
Guatemalan0.1%(140)
Uruguayan0.1%(119)
Venezuelan0.1%(113)
Peruvian0.1%(111)
Chilean0%(70)
Bolivian0%(53)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.2%(2,542)
Filipino0.4%(792)
Nepalese0.3%(712)
Bhutanese0.2%(519)
Chinese0.2%(505)
Korean0.1%(271)
Laotian0.1%(177)
Vietnamese0.1%(170)
Pakistani0.1%(156)
Indonesian0.1%(117)
Kazakh0%(51)
Cambodian0%(24)
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data
Malaysian0%(24)
Japanese0%(20)
Thai0%(18)
Taiwanese0%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(80)
Guamanian0%(22)
Ancestry
Irish21.9%(47,387)
Italian19.8%(42,895)
German13.4%(28,961)
Polish13.3%(28,648)
English6.3%(13,688)
American5.7%(12,364)
Welsh3.5%(7,526)
Russian3.3%(7,124)
Slovak1.7%(3,669)
Lithuanian1.3%(2,713)
Ukrainian1.1%(2,275)
French0.9%(1,983)
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.8%(1,703)
Dutch0.7%(1,462)
Hungarian0.6%(1,309)
Arab0.5%(1,111)
Austrian0.4%(861)
West Indian0.4%(827)
Lebanese0.3%(659)
Czech0.3%(650)
Swedish0.3%(636)
Portuguese0.3%(614)
Greek0.3%(590)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(439)
Jamaican0.2%(435)
British0.2%(365)
Turkish0.1%(301)
Norwegian0.1%(277)
Swiss0.1%(235)
Canadian0.1%(211)
Danish0.1%(170)
Brazilian0.1%(152)
Romanian0.1%(144)
Syrian0.1%(143)
Haitian0.1%(123)
Egyptian0%(104)
Slovene0%(103)
Guyanese0%(97)
Iranian0%(95)
Barbadian0%(92)
Armenian0%(67)
Bulgarian0%(67)
Belgian0%(65)
Kenyan0%(54)
Israeli0%(48)
Iraqi0%(46)
Finnish0%(41)
Ghanaian0%(41)
Croatian0%(35)
Nigerian0%(22)
Moroccan0%(20)
Serbian0%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.7%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.3%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.1 min
+65%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 79.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 73.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.9%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 31.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
6.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−4.2 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.5%
+14.2 ptssince 2017
from 73.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
93.2%
+5.4 ptssince 2020
from 87.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
88.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 87.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
89.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 90.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 4.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.3%(35,349)
Married46.5%(40,741)
Widowed3.9%(3,449)
Divorced9.2%(8,093)
Women 15+
Never married33.1%(30,590)
Married43.9%(40,630)
Widowed10.7%(9,923)
Divorced12.3%(11,336)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.9%
−4.2 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
55.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 56.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2020
from 16.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
21.8%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 21.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
24.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 22.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
67.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2020
from 71.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
42.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 40.9% 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)16.3%(1,655)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15%(1,525)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.9%(3,539)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7.5%(762)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2%(204)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 10,153 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
Over time

Lackawanna County, decade by decade

Lackawanna County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990219,039$59,560$163,20514.8%4.4
2000213,295$62,734$165,95319.6%10.0
2010214,437$62,827$197,22823.7%24.1
2020215,896$65,528$187,50228.7%41.4
2024216,146$66,223$201,80030.6%44.0

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Lackawanna County to nearby counties

LACKAWANNA COUNTY VS
Wyoming County
Income$72,460+9%
Home value$215,400+7%
Population25,790−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LACKAWANNA COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$62,381−6%
Home value$242,100+20%
Population51,703−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LACKAWANNA COUNTY VS
Luzerne County
Income$63,691−4%
Home value$174,100−14%
Population332,126+53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LACKAWANNA COUNTY VS
Susquehanna County
Income$68,487+3%
Home value$216,400+7%
Population38,237−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania?

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania has about 216,146 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania earns about $66,223 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $201,800, and the typical rent is about $1,007 a month.

How educated are people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania?

About 30.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania?

About 14.4% of people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,893 residents, a change of about -1 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 →