County population in 2014: 318,829 (80% urban, 20% rural); it was 319,250 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 53,307 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 36,435 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 91,880 Renter-occupied apartments: 42,190 (it was 38,807 in 2000)
% of renters here:
30%
State:
30%
Land area: 891 sq. mi.
Water area: 16.3 sq. mi.
Population density: 358 people per square mile (high).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Luzerne County: 94.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (31.6%), Educational, health and social services (13.1%).
Estimated median household income in 2015: $50,301 ($33,771 in 1999)
This county:
$50,301
Pennsylvania:
$55,702
Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $577 (lower quartile is $437, upper quartile is $711)
This county:
$577
State:
$709
Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $123,100 (it was $83,500 in 2000)
Luzerne:
$123,100
Pennsylvania:
$170,600
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $78,700 - $187,400
Mean price in 2015:
Detached houses: $164,552
Here:
$164,552
State:
$233,967
Townhouses or other attached units: $104,419
Here:
$104,419
State:
$171,258
In 2-unit structures: $116,046
Here:
$116,046
State:
$159,964
In 3-to-4-unit structures: $122,347
Here:
$122,347
State:
$187,323
In 5-or-more-unit structures: $341,370
Here:
$341,370
State:
$233,042
Mobile homes: $39,131
Here:
$39,131
State:
$59,475
Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $86,348
Here:
$86,348
State:
$208,712
Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,185 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $500
Institutionalized population: 7,371
Health of residents in Luzerne County based on CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2003 to 2012:
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.4. This is worse than average. 68.9% of residents exercised in the past month. This is less than average. 54.3% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is more than average. 98.7% of adult residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is more than average. 68.6% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is about average. Average weight of males is 196 pounds. This is about average. Average weight of females is 159 pounds. This is about average.
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $2,061 (1.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $1,821 (1.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 15.4%
(12.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 48.3% for Black residents, 34.8% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 52.2% for American Indian residents, 62.9% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 30.1% for other race residents, 33.0% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 15.4%
Luzerne County:
15.4%
Pennsylvania:
13.2%
(12.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 47.5% for Black residents, 34.8% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 53.1% for American Indian residents, 62.9% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 26.1% for other race residents, 30.2% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2015: 42 years old
(Males: 40 years old, Females: 44 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 46 years old, Black residents: 27 years old, American Indian residents: 52 years old, Asian residents: 35 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 24 years old, Other race residents: 28 years old)
Area name: Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Luzerne County is $495 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $594 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $753 a month.
Current college students: 15,918 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 81.1% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.4%
Number of foreign born residents: 6,171 (60% naturalized citizens)
Luzerne County:
1.9%
Whole state:
4.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 1,213
1990 to 1994: 987
1985 to 1989: 692
1980 to 1984: 444
1975 to 1979: 280
1970 to 1974: 514
1970 to 1974: 328
1965 to 1969: 1,713
Note: State values scaled to Luzerne County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 21.2 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 85.5%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 88,403
One, attached: 17,468
Two: 11,396
3 or 4: 9,287
5 to 9: 4,425
10 to 19: 2,067
20 or more: 5,716
Mobile homes: 5,855
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 69
Housing units in Luzerne County with a mortgage: 42,617 (3,862 second mortgage, 6,990 home equity loan, 159 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 36,182
Here:
54.1% with mortgage
State:
62.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Luzerne County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Catholic
138,000
75
Mainline Protestant
31,734
142
Evangelical Protestant
12,502
108
Other
5,134
17
Orthodox
1,667
12
Black Protestant
118
1
None
131,763
-
Luzerne County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 65
Luzerne County:
2.08 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.04 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 2
Here:
0.06 / 10,000 pop.
Pennsylvania:
0.09 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 34
This county:
1.09 / 10,000 pop.
Pennsylvania:
0.88 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 96
Luzerne County:
3.08 / 10,000 pop.
Pennsylvania:
2.52 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 294
This county:
9.42 / 10,000 pop.
State:
7.12 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Luzerne County:
9.6%
Pennsylvania:
9.1%
Adult obesity rate:
Luzerne County:
27.4%
State:
27.2%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
9.6%
State:
11.5%
Agriculture in Luzerne County:
Average size of farms: 134 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $40,887 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $621.55 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 27.39% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 19.02% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $32,513 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 39.87% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $50,259 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 91.06% Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 6.90 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 29.22% Corn for grain: 5881 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 1206 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 1966 harvested acres Vegetables: 1,679 harvested acres Land in orchards: 357 acres
Earthquake activity:
Luzerne County-area historical earthquake activity is near Pennsylvania state average. It is 86% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 1/16/1994 at 01:49:16, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB, 4.6 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 59.0 miles away from Luzerne County center On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 208.5 miles away from the county center On 9/25/1998 at 19:52:52, a magnitude 5.2 (4.8 MB, 4.3 MS, 5.2 LG, 4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 231.9 miles away from the county center On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MB, 4.2 MS, 5.2 MW, 5.0 MW, Depth: 6.8 mi) earthquake occurred 255.2 miles away from the county center On 1/16/1994 at 00:42:43, a magnitude 4.2 (4.2 MB, 4.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 59.1 miles away from Luzerne County center On 1/31/1986 at 16:46:43, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB) earthquake occurred 271.9 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Pennsylvania Hurricane Sandy, Incident Period: October 26, 2012 to November 08, 2012, Emergency Declared EM-3356: October 29, 2012, FEMA Id: 3356, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Pennsylvania Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, Incident Period: September 03, 2011 to October 15, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared EM-3340: September 08, 2011, FEMA Id: 3340, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
Pennsylvania Tropical Storm Lee, Incident Period: September 03, 2011 to October 15, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4030: September 12, 2011, FEMA Id: 4030, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
Pennsylvania Hurricane Irene, Incident Period: August 26, 2011 to September 14, 2011, Emergency Declared EM-3339: August 29, 2011, FEMA Id: 3339, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Pennsylvania Hurricane Irene, Incident Period: August 26, 2011 to August 30, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4025: September 03, 2011, FEMA Id: 4025, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Pennsylvania Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: November 16, 2006 to November 17, 2006, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1684: February 23, 2007, FEMA Id: 1684, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Pennsylvania Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, Incident Period: June 23, 2006 to July 10, 2006, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1649: June 30, 2006, FEMA Id: 1649, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Flood
Pennsylvania Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3235: September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 3235, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Pennsylvania Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: April 02, 2005 to April 23, 2005, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1587: April 14, 2005, FEMA Id: 1587, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Pennsylvania Tropical Depression Ivan, Incident Period: September 17, 2004 to October 01, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1557: September 19, 2004, FEMA Id: 1557, Natural disaster type: Tropical Depression
9 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Luzerne County (19) is greater than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 14 Emergencies Declared: 5
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 6, Storms: 6, Hurricanes: 5, Tropical Storms: 3, Winter Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowfall: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Tropical Depression: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.3 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 9.8 Births per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 9.9
Births per 1000 population in Luzerne County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 13.3 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 13.8 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 12.6
Deaths per 1000 population in Luzerne County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 6.8 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 7.2 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2007 to 2013: 3.7
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Luzerne County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 12.5% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 5.3%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Luzerne County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Luzerne County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 66,462 (55,305 aged, 11,157 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 5,228 (8%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1999 - 2014:
Atherosclerotic heart disease (5,620)
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (5,159)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (3,775)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (3,569)
Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality (2,347)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (1,537)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (1,519)
Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (1,324)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 5%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 2.23 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 14,484 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 339 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 42,264
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,007 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,343 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 16
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 59 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 87
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 11 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Homicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 36.9. This is less than state average.
Mechanisms of homicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 19.1
Other - 17.8
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 143.0. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 82.9
Suffocation - 34.6
Poisoning - 15.9
Other - 9.6
Household type by relationship:
Households: 309,127
In family households: 251,124 (56,875 male householders, 26,216 female householders)
59,213 spouses, 85,943 children (80,391 natural, 1,957 adopted, 3,595 stepchildren), 5,423 grandchildren, 2,910 brothers or sisters, 3,270 parents, 2,694 other relatives, 7,025 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 58,003 (22,227 male householders (17,950 living alone)), 26,614 female householders (23,531 living alone)), 9,162 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 11,791 (7,371 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 37,876 2-persons, 20,570 3-persons, 15,027 4-persons, 6,242 5-persons, 2,133 6-persons, 1,243 7-or-more-persons.
46,237 married couples with children.
15,256 single-parent households (3,534 men, 11,722 women).
94.9% of residents of Luzerne County speak English at home.
1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (60% speak English very well, 19% speak English well, 17% speak English not well, 4% don't speak English at all).
3.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (75% speak English very well, 16% speak English well, 8% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
0.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (52% speak English very well, 31% speak English well, 14% speak English not well, 4% don't speak English at all).
0.2% of residents speak other language at home (73% speak English very well, 22% speak English well, 4% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $2,311,151,000 ($7,374 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $71,828,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $982,857,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $633,512,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $8,764,000 Federal grants: $387,206,000 Federal procurement contracts: $100,379,000 ($20,083,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $198,433,000 ($24,725,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $860,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $58,535,000 Federal Government insurance: $1,342,526,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 15,711
Here:
50 per 1000 residents
State:
61 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 23,221
Here:
74 per 1000 residents
State:
54 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +923
Here:
+3 per 1000 residents
State:
+8 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +597
Here:
+2 per 1000 residents
State:
-2 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Luzerne County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 21.02 millions of gallons per day (15% from ground, 85% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.3
State:
6.4
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.5
State:
4.2
Year house built
2014 or later: 87
2010 to 2013: 1,691
2000 to 2009: 7,259
1990 to 1999: 11,975
1980 to 1989: 11,295
1970 to 1979: 22,654
1960 to 1969: 11,504
1950 to 1959: 15,233
1940 to 1949: 13,179
1939 or earlier: 53,329
Note: State values scaled to Luzerne population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Note: State values scaled to Luzerne County population
no vehicle: 6,926
1 vehicle: 28,483
2 vehicles: 38,057
3 vehicles: 13,567
4 vehicles: 3,601
5+ vehicles: 1,246
no vehicle: 9,950
1 vehicle: 18,957
2 vehicles: 8,353
3 vehicles: 1,219
4 vehicles: 176
5+ vehicles: 152
69% of Luzerne County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 73% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 59% lived in Pennsylvania.
Luzerne County:
69.4%
State average:
64.4%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 274,844
Northeast: 22,078
Midwest: 3,925
South: 7,919
West: 2,691
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $64,600
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Luzerne County
#10 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating to other counties in 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
#16 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating to other counties in 2011"
#17 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives"
#17 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest decrease in the number of infant deaths per 1000 residents 2000-2006 to 2007-2013 (pop. 50,000+)"
#26 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Catholic congregations"
#26 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Catholic congregations (pop. 50,000+)"
#30 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest number of deaths per 1000 residents 2007-2013 (pop. 50,000+)"
#31 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest increase in the number of births per 1000 residents 2000-2006 to 2007-2013 (pop 50,000+)"
#33 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from other counties between 2010 and 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"
#39 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of births per 1000 residents 2007-2013"
#39 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of births per 1000 residents 2007-2013 (pop 50,000+)"
#40 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Orthodox congregations"
#41 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of infant deaths per 1000 residents 2007-2013 (pop. 50,000+)"
#41 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Orthodox congregations (pop. 50,000+)"
#42 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Ozone (1-hour) air pollution readings in 2012 (ppm)"
#57 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from other counties between 2010 and 2011"
#59 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant congregations"
#59 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Protestant congregations (pop. 50,000+)"
#65 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents that exercised in the past month"
#70 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest decrease in the number of deaths per 1000 residents 2000-2006 to 2007-2013 (pop. 50,000+)"
Click here to upload your Luzerne County photos (outside city limits)
42.0 years
40.0 years
(48.9%)
(51.1%)
, Tooele County, Utah 
, Madison County, Iowa 
