The Town FilesHazleton, Pennsylvania
City in Luzerne County · population 29,963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,600
- Household income
- $46,177
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.5
Hazleton is a city of 29,963 people in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $151,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Hazleton ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hazleton is worth $151,600, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $46,177, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,089 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hazleton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,600 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,089 | $996 |
| Median household income | $46,177 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Hazleton
| People | Hazleton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 38.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Hazleton
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hazleton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 15, 1992 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Luzerne County since 1996
Luzerne County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Luzerne County
Luzerne County had 145,190 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,901 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Hazleton itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Hazleton
3 public schools with 2,553 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heights Terrace El/MS | K-8 | 1,209 | 17.3 |
| Hazleton El/MS | 3-8 | 890 | 15.3 |
| Arthur Street El Sch | K-2 | 454 | 17.5 |
Towns near Hazleton
- Hazle, PA2.2 mi · 10,160 people · home $206,000
- West Hazleton, PA3.2 mi · 5,163 people · home $151,800
- Butler, PA6.0 mi · 9,485 people · home $252,900
- Freeland, PA6.3 mi · 3,833 people · home $118,000
- Rush, PA6.9 mi · 3,417 people · home $208,000
- Sugarloaf, PA7.1 mi · 3,846 people · home $300,500
- Foster, PA7.2 mi · 3,408 people · home $170,200
- Weatherly, PA7.9 mi · 2,541 people · home $163,200
Hazleton questions
Is Hazleton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hazleton scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 1%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Hazleton?
The median owner-occupied home in Hazleton is valued at $151,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,177, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,089 a month.
What is the weather like in Hazleton?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 41.5 inches of snow.
Does Hazleton get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hazleton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 15, 1992. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)