Wilkes-Barre, PA—18705
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Wilkes-Barre, PA
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Wilkes-Barre, PA is $180,000, with a year-over-year change of 8.9%. This indicates that home prices in Wilkes-Barre, PA are increasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 1.3%, suggesting an increase housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $180,000 | 8.9% |
| Single Family | $180,000 | 7.8% |
| Condos | N/A | N/A |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | N/A | N/A |
2 Bed | $155,000 | 6.9% |
3 Bed | $184,000 | 7.6% |
4 Bed | $222,000 | 6.2% |
| 5 Bed | N/A | N/A |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Wilkes-Barre, PA
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Wilkes-Barre, PA is $1,230, with a year-over-year rent change of -9.6%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Wilkes-Barre, PA is 1-bedrooms: $762, 2-bedrooms: $1,250, 3-bedrooms: $1,430, 4-bedrooms: $1,670. The most common rental property sizes in Wilkes-Barre, PA are 3-bedroom and 2-bedroom, accounting for 41.0% and 35.9% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,300 | $1,230 |
| Studio Rent | N/A | N/A |
| 1 Bed Rent | $700 | $762 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $1,250 | $1,250 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $1,400 | $1,430 |
| 4 Bed Rent | $1,600 | $1,670 |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Wilkes-Barre, PA
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Wilkes-Barre, PA is 53. This is a decrease of -21.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market shorter than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 69.0%, representing a large inventory and a lot of supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $205,000 | -6.0% |
Listing Count | 26 | 49.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 0.2% | 49.0% |
Days on Market | 53 | -21.0% |
Demographics — Wilkes-Barre, PA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Wilkes-Barre, PA has a population of 15,600, which has increased by 8.1% over the past 5 years. Wilkes-Barre, PA is a moderately popular place for families, as children make up 22.1% of the population. The area has a poorly educated workforce, with 23.3% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are few residents working remotely, with 8.1% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 15,600 | 8.1% |
% Under 18 | 22.1% | 19.5% |
% Seniors | 18.1% | -10.4% |
% WFH | 8.1% | 107.7% |
% w/ College Degree | 23.3% | 8.4% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Wilkes-Barre, PA is a predominantly white area, with 67.7% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 20.4% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Wilkes-Barre, PA is hispanic, making up 22.2% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 11.2% of the population in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and this percentage has increased by 77.8% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting more immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 67.7% | -20.4% |
% Black | 4.3% | 2.4% |
% Hispanic | 22.2% | 149.4% |
% Asian | 0.5% | -61.5% |
% Foreign Born | 11.2% | 77.8% |
Mortgage and Risk — Wilkes-Barre, PA
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 219 mortgage originations in Wilkes-Barre, PA, of which 73.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 68.0%, with 35.0% above 90% LTV (very high). This implies large mortgage risk in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Investor activity is low, as 1.0% of loans were by investors. 11.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting many homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 219 |
% Conventional Loans | 73.0% |
% Government Loans | 27.0% |
% Investor Loans | 1.0% |
% Second Loans | 2.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 11.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Wilkes-Barre, PA
As of 2024, the percent of homes in Wilkes-Barre, PA under the Section 8 program is 8.3%. This is considered low, suggesting that the neighborhood is sparsely composed of Section 8 homes. Section 8 opportunity is good when HUD pays more than market rent. 1-bedroom and 3-bedroom units appear to be good home sizes to consider for Section 8 housing in Wilkes-Barre, PA, because HUD payments exceed market rent, while 2-bedroom and 4-bedroom units do not.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 337 |
Total Units Section 8 | 197 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 8.3% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 64.0% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $200 | $700 | $900 |
| 2 Bedroom | -$160 | $1,250 | $1,090 |
| 3 Bedroom | $20 | $1,400 | $1,420 |
| 4 Bedroom | -$50 | $1,600 | $1,550 |
Affordability — Wilkes-Barre, PA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 2.2 |
| Median Home Price | $180,000 |
| Median Household Income | $61,300 |