1st Advantage MortgageIn Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $66,223 a year and the typical rent is $1,007. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Lackawanna County, PA: the basics
- Income in Lackawanna County compared with Pennsylvania
- Jobs and commutes in Lackawanna County
- Lackawanna County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- Towns and communities in Lackawanna County
- Counties near Lackawanna County
- Debt-to-income at Lackawanna County's medians
- People and households in Lackawanna County
- Borrowing situations common in Lackawanna County
- Who licenses lenders for Lackawanna County residents
- Checklist for Lackawanna County applicants
- More guides for Lackawanna County
- Frequently asked questions
Lackawanna County, PA: the basics
With an estimated 216,146 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lackawanna County ranks 17th of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Packed into 459 square miles, that is close to 471 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 26 places in the county (19 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Scranton, with about 76,033 residents, or 35% of the county.
Income in Lackawanna County compared with Pennsylvania
At $66,223, the typical Lackawanna County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Lackawanna County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.0% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -4.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Lackawanna County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.4% of Lackawanna County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lackawanna County median.
Jobs and commutes in Lackawanna County
The biggest employer of Lackawanna County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Lackawanna County. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lackawanna County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Lackawanna County housing compared with Pennsylvania
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,007 in Lackawanna County versus $1,209 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $201,800, a typical Lackawanna County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 65% of Lackawanna County households own their home and 35% rent. Median construction year: 1955.
| Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,007/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $201,800 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Lackawanna County
26 Census places fall mainly inside Lackawanna County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 177,606 residents, leaving about 18% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $47,716 in Carbondale to $124,167 in Waverly. Median rent ranges from $660 in Carbondale to $1,754 in Chinchilla. Live in one of these Lackawanna County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton | city | 76,033 | $50,739 | $1,048 | 4 mi |
| Dunmore | borough | 14,181 | $71,302 | $928 | 2 mi |
| Carbondale | city | 8,789 | $47,716 | $660 | 11 mi |
| Old Forge | borough | 8,573 | $71,812 | $859 | 8 mi |
| Archbald | borough | 7,404 | $71,936 | $966 | 6 mi |
| Blakely | borough | 6,662 | $55,855 | $1,063 | 3 mi |
| Taylor | borough | 6,265 | $71,599 | $1,085 | 6 mi |
| Dickson City | borough | 6,023 | $59,963 | $997 | 3 mi |
| Moosic | borough | 5,973 | $80,187 | $1,329 | 7 mi |
| Olyphant | borough | 5,381 | $66,423 | $963 | 2 mi |
| Clarks Summit | borough | 5,073 | $92,083 | $1,305 | 6 mi |
| Jessup | borough | 4,495 | $64,844 | $959 | 4 mi |
| Throop | borough | 4,081 | $57,462 | $983 | 1 mi |
| Chinchilla | CDP | 2,213 | $92,167 | $1,754 | 5 mi |
Counties near Lackawanna County
Distances run center to center, from Wyoming County at 22 miles out to Pike County at 31. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Lackawanna County; Monroe County is highest at $83,565 and Wayne County lowest at $62,381.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna County | - | $66,223 | $1,007/mo | 65% |
| Wyoming County, PA | 22 mi | $72,460 | $943/mo | 78% |
| Wayne County, PA | 22 mi | $62,381 | $1,038/mo | 81% |
| Luzerne County, PA | 26 mi | $63,691 | $1,004/mo | 68% |
| Susquehanna County, PA | 28 mi | $68,487 | $933/mo | 78% |
| Monroe County, PA | 30 mi | $83,565 | $1,393/mo | 80% |
| Pike County, PA | 31 mi | $81,323 | $1,378/mo | 87% |
Debt-to-income at Lackawanna County's medians
Here is the Lackawanna County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,519 gross per month ($66,223 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,007, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $980 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Lackawanna County
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.6% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Lackawanna County
Based on the Lackawanna County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lackawanna County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Lackawanna County borrower sees (free reports).
Who licenses lenders for Lackawanna County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lackawanna County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
Checklist for Lackawanna County applicants
A short checklist for Lackawanna County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lackawanna County-area credit union.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Lackawanna County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lackawanna County household make?
About $66,223 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Pennsylvania median.
How does Lackawanna County rent compare with Pennsylvania?
$1,007 locally versus $1,209 for the state, 17% below.
Does this page cover Scranton?
Yes, along with the other 25 Census places in Lackawanna County, such as Dunmore, Carbondale, Old Forge.
Will a Lackawanna County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Pennsylvania as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Lackawanna County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Pennsylvania it is the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.