Population 327,675 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Luzerne County
Household size in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Luzerne County is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The picture is much the same across Pennsylvania. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.3 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Luzerne County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.3, against 40.1 nationally. Pennsylvania as a whole looks much the same. Compared with other Pennsylvania counties, though, Luzerne County is younger than most.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Luzerne County than nationally: 13.2%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 3.1 points, even as the national share fell. Only three of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Luzerne County
Renters in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.2% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Luzerne County rent their homes (32.2%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 48.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, mirroring the country. Only six of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Luzerne County: 11.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +6 |
Luzerne County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $652 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $737 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $830 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,078 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$425 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in Luzerne County pays $1,078 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $425 a month from 2006–10, a 65% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 30.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Luzerne County
Bachelor's degrees in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Luzerne County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.5%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.3 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.1% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.3% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.3% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Luzerne County is the same as the national rate: 89.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent. The rate is lower than in Pennsylvania as a whole (91.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Luzerne County
| Period | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Luzerne County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Luzerne County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luzerne County | 2.40 | 42.3 | 13.2% | 32.2% | 11.4% | 1960 | $1,078 | 24.5% | 89.3% | 5.9% |
| Columbia County | 2.36 | 42.5 | 7.4% | 30.5% | 11.7% | 1968 | $966 | 27.1% | 92.7% | 5.8% |
| Monroe County | 2.75 | 44.1 | 10.4% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 1982 | $1,505 | 27.8% | 90.3% | 6.7% |
| Lycoming County | 2.35 | 42.3 | 11.0% | 30.9% | 10.7% | 1963 | $958 | 24.9% | 91.0% | 5.3% |
| Sussex County | 2.55 | 44.4 | 8.6% | 16.3% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,719 | 40.7% | 95.4% | 5.2% |
| Clinton County | 2.38 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 27.7% | 14.6% | 1967 | $899 | 21.4% | 90.4% | 5.3% |
| Rockland County | 3.51 | 35.9 | 9.1% | 32.1% | 5.9% | 1975 | $2,035 | 39.1% | 85.8% | 5.5% |
| Westchester County | 2.76 | 42.3 | 10.6% | 38.2% | 6.7% | 1960 | $2,238 | 52.7% | 88.8% | 6.0% |
| Fairfield County | 2.75 | 41.6 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 7.0% | 1967 | $2,167 | 50.4% | 89.7% | 5.8% |
| Jefferson County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 14.7% | 1961 | $804 | 18.2% | 91.9% | 4.2% |
| Clarion County | 2.39 | 43.0 | 8.2% | 27.5% | 17.1% | 1964 | $793 | 24.2% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Stark County, OH · Cumberland County, NC · Davis County, UT · Douglas County, CO · Escambia County, FL · Fayette County, KY · Forsyth County, GA · Forsyth County, NC · Frederick County, MD · Gloucester County, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Luzerne County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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