Scranton, PA Local Data & Statistics

State: PA

Total population: 76,033 Household income: $50,739 Rent: $1,048

Overview

Total population

76,033

Rent

$1,048

Year built

1938

Household income

$50,739

Per capita income

$28,347

Poverty rate

23%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Pennsylvania

Total population

76,033

Adults over 25

50,388

Total households

30,247

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$50,739

Per capita income

$28,347

Poverty rate

23%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Rent over 30% of income

48%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,048

Year built

1938

Households that rent

50.1%

Households that own

49.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

67.4%

Black

6.9%

Asian

5.3%

Two or more races

12.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

17.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

82.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

27.5%

High school graduate or GED

38.7%

Some college or associate degree

10.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

23.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Scranton, PA with: Pennsylvania United States

Scranton, PA

Total population76,033

Rent$1,048

Year built1938

Household income$50,739

Per capita income$28,347

Poverty rate23%

Unemployment rate3.2%

Pennsylvania State

Total population13,018,639

Rent$1,209

Year built1965

Household income$77,971

Per capita income$44,355

Poverty rate11.7%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityScranton, PA	StatePennsylvania	CountryUnited States
Total population	76,033	13,018,639	334,922,499
Rent	$1,048	$1,209	$1,413
Year built	1938	1965	1980
Household income	$50,739	$77,971	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,347	$44,355	$44,673
Poverty rate	23%	11.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Scranton, PA, Pennsylvania and United States →

Summary for Scranton, PA

Scranton is located in Pennsylvania.

Rent & Income

In Scranton, the typical monthly rent is $1,048 and the typical household income is $50,739. Rent here is lower than in both Pennsylvania and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 23%, which is higher than in both Pennsylvania and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 50.1% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 23.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.2%, which is lower than both Pennsylvania and the national rate.

Scranton, PA — Rent vs Household Income

Scranton, PA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Scranton, PA compares in Pennsylvania (9 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,048	2 / 9	from lower rent	$870 – $1,397
Household income	$50,739	6 / 9	from higher income	$44,091 – $68,879
Poverty rate	23%	6 / 9	from lower poverty	15.7% – 30.5%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	4 / 9	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 4.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Pennsylvania with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

💰 Rent in Scranton, PA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,048 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Scranton, PA

Annual Household Income: $50,739

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Scranton, PA

Estimated Rate: 23%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Scranton, PA

In Scranton, PA, households that rent: 15,164 (50.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	15,164	50.1%
Owner-Occupied	15,083	49.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Scranton, PA

In Scranton, PA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,286 (48%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,286	48%
Other renter households	7,878	52%
Total renter households	15,164	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Scranton, PA

Less than High School: 13,860 people (27.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 19,498 people (38.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,369 people (10.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 11,661 people (23.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 50,388

📊 Unemployment Rate in Scranton, PA

Estimated Rate: 3.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Southfield, MI76,025 Rochester Hills, MI76,086 Daytona Beach, FL75,924 Pittsburg, CA75,868 Arlington Heights, IL76,220 Flagstaff, AZ76,333 Redmond, WA75,721 Missoula, MT75,600 Doral, FL76,490 Evanston, IL76,552

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.