Township · Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre Township, township, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre Township had 3,236 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,213 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,198 (±18). GEOID 4207985160.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,236
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,213 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,198 ±18
Median household income
$67,656
±$19,195 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$115,700
±$21,014 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$1,149
±$43 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Wilkes-Barre Township and what county is it in?
Wilkes-Barre Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It covers 3.0 square miles of land, 1,071 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Wilkes-Barre Township: Georgetown (Luzerne County) (CDP, 1,723 in 2020).
Wilkes-Barre Township is in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wilkes-Barre Township, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,236 people lived in Wilkes-Barre Township on July 1, 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 3,213 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,198 (±18).
| Measure | Wilkes-Barre Township | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,198±18 | 327,675 | +307 |
| Households | 1,532±146 | 135,055 | +224 |
| Average household size | 2.02±0.19 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,782±169 | 151,287 | +274 |
Wilkes-Barre Township's population since 2000
From 3,235 in 2000 to 3,236 in 2025: up 0.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wilkes-Barre Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wilkes-Barre Township?
The median resident of Wilkes-Barre Township is 48.6 years old; 17.1% are under 18 and 21.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 9.9%. 7.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wilkes-Barre Township | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6±6.8 | 42.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.1%±5.1 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.6%±5.0 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 59.0%±4.8 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.8%±4.5 pts | 17.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.9%±9.4 pts | 74.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.9%±6.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.3%±2.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1%±2.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.8%±4.1 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.7%±4.8 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.9%±4.5 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 22.6%±6.5 pts | 16.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0%±4.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.3%±5.4 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.8%±6.1 pts | 25.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.4%±3.4 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.2%±5.8 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.7%±3.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wilkes-Barre Township earn?
Half of Wilkes-Barre Township's 1,532 households earn less than $67,656 a year (±$19,195), against $63,691 in Luzerne County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $59,200 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wilkes-Barre Township | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,656±$19,195 | $63,691 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,450±$8,440 | $86,447 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,873±$4,429 | $36,493 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.0%±4.4 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.3%±8.9 pts | 24.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.8%±5.2 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.5%±6.5 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.9%±8.0 pts | 87.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wilkes-Barre Township?
Owners occupy 45.7% of Wilkes-Barre Township's occupied homes and renters 54.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $115,700 by its owner (±$21,014). The median renter pays $1,149 a month including utilities, and 41.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wilkes-Barre Township | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $115,700±$21,014 | $174,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,149±$43 | $1,004 | −$132 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.8%±17.7 pts | 38.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,217±$314 | $1,475 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 45.7%±10.4 pts | 67.8% | −15.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 54.3%±10.4 pts | 32.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,782±169 | 151,287 | +274 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±4.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.9%±8.0 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 51.3%±7.9 pts | 64.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.9%±2.3 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±1.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.3%±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 38.6%±9.7 pts | 30.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.7%±7.3 pts | 9.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Wilkes-Barre Township building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Wilkes-Barre Township in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Wilkes-Barre Township work and get to work?
72.4% of Wilkes-Barre Township's workers drive alone and 18.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes.
| Measure | Wilkes-Barre Township | Luzerne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.9%±6.3 pts | 60.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.1%±2.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.4%±9.9 pts | 74.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.3%±6.3 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.0%±2.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.2%±11.2 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.8 min±4.9 | 23.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Wilkes-Barre Township?
1 census tract lies mostly in Wilkes-Barre Township, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2152Luzerne County | 3,111 | $64,079 |
| Tract 2009Luzerne County | 3,769 | $33,438 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Wilkes-Barre Township) · Census block assignment files
How does Wilkes-Barre Township compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wilkes-Barre Township is the 3,366th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 549th-most populous of 1,542 in Pennsylvania.
Wilkes-Barre Township ranks 1,459th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 549th | 1,542 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 564th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 930th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 1,459th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 1,306th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,963rd | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 751st | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 718th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,597th | 2,129 |
| Median age | 511th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 2,067th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 396th | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 1,402nd | 2,156 |
Wilkes-Barre Township's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Wilkes-Barre Township with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Wilkes-Barre Township?
18 of the 57 figures for Wilkes-Barre Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wilkes-Barre Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.