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    Moving to Wilkes-Barre, PA

    Is Wilkes-Barre a good place to live?

    Watch Wilkes-Barre

    Wilkes-Barre ranks #8 of 25 Pennsylvania cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (52/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $108,000
    +10.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $939
    per month
    Household income
    $47,970
    median
    Unemployment
    8.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Wilkes-Barre

    The median home value in Wilkes-Barre is $108,000 and median rent is $939 a month, against a median household income of $47,970. Homes cost about 2.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Wilkes-Barre crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Pennsylvania the 2025 rate was 229 violent and 1,360 property crimes per 100,000 people — #34 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Wilkes-Barre, PA

    Wilkes-Barre has about 44,217 residents, 8.3% unemployment and 13% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Wilkes-Barre with

    Wilkes-Barre vs PhiladelphiaWilkes-Barre vs PittsburghWilkes-Barre vs AllentownWilkes-Barre vs ReadingWilkes-Barre vs ErieWilkes-Barre vs BethlehemWilkes-Barre vs ScrantonWilkes-Barre vs Lancaster

    More: Where to move in Pennsylvania · Best counties in Pennsylvania

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report