The Town FilesScranton, Pennsylvania
City in Lackawanna County · population 76,328 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,100
- Household income
- $50,739
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 37.2
Scranton is a city of 76,328 people in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $158,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Scranton 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 Scranton is worth $158,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $50,739, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,048 a month. 49.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scranton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,048 | $996 |
| Median household income | $50,739 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Scranton
| People | Scranton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.0% |
Weather in Scranton
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scranton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 25, 2017 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Lackawanna County since 1996
Lackawanna County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County had 98,108 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Scranton itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Scranton
17 public schools with 9,546 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton HS | 7-12 | 1,819 | 19.6 |
| West Scranton HS | 9-12 | 1,404 | 13.9 |
| Northeast Intrmd Sch | 5-8 | 923 | 13.2 |
| West Scranton Intrmd Sch | 5-8 | 840 | 14.7 |
| South Scranton Intrmd Sch | 5-8 | 781 | 13.9 |
| Isaac Tripp El Sch | K-4 | 672 | 11.4 |
| John G Whittier #2 | K-4 | 452 | 14.1 |
| Neil Armstrong #40 | K-4 | 427 | 11.2 |
| Frances Willard #32 | PK-4 | 352 | 14.7 |
| McNichols Plaza | K-4 | 347 | 15.1 |
| Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence CS (charter) | K-8 | 320 | 11.0 |
| John F. Kennedy #7 | K-4 | 311 | 10.7 |
Towns near Scranton
- Taylor, PA2.6 mi · 6,294 people · home $182,500
- Dunmore, PA3.2 mi · 14,042 people · home $196,100
- Moosic, PA3.9 mi · 5,959 people · home $250,900
- Throop, PA4.5 mi · 4,065 people · home $165,400
- Old Forge, PA4.5 mi · 8,497 people · home $174,400
- Dickson City, PA4.7 mi · 6,038 people · home $192,300
- Olyphant, PA5.7 mi · 5,383 people · home $160,900
- Newton, PA5.8 mi · 2,816 people · home $326,300
Scranton questions
Is Scranton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scranton scores better for retirees than 8% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 4%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Scranton?
The median owner-occupied home in Scranton is valued at $158,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,739, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,048 a month.
What is the weather like in Scranton?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Scranton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scranton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 25, 2017. 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)