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City · 76,033 residents · Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania

Scranton , Pennsylvania

In Scranton, a typical home is worth $158,100 and typical rent is $1,048 a month. Compared with all of Lackawanna County, typical household income is 23% lower, the typical home value is 22% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $158,100

    22% below the county

    38% below Pennsylvania

    • Scranton
    • Lackawanna
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical rent

    $1,048a month

    4% above the county

    13% below Pennsylvania

    • Scranton
    • Lackawanna
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical household income

    $50,739a year

    23% below the county

    35% below Pennsylvania

    • Scranton
    • Lackawanna
    • Pennsylvania

  • Households that own their home

    50%

    16 points below the county

    19 points below Pennsylvania

    • Scranton
    • Lackawanna
    • Pennsylvania

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$202,099
2.2% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,346 a month
3.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Scranton is in Lackawanna County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lackawanna County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Scranton apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 50% of households in Scranton own their home, against 65% in Lackawanna County.

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Scranton fell 2.2%; in Pennsylvania, it rose 2.2%.

  3. The typical household income in Scranton is $50,739, 23% less than in Lackawanna County as a whole ($66,223).

  4. Nearby, in Old Forge, the typical rent is $859: 18% less than in Scranton ($1,048).

  5. The typical home in Scranton is worth $158,100, 22% less than in Lackawanna County as a whole ($201,800).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Scranton

What homes there are in Scranton, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Scranton; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 49%, less than in Lackawanna County (64%).

Year built

The typical home in Scranton was built before 1940, the oldest group the Census tells apart; 72% of homes date from before 1960.

There are fewer big homes in Scranton than in Lackawanna County: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Lackawanna County is $541,287, and about 98% of owner-occupied homes in Scranton are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Scranton cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,363): about 73%.

With a mortgage

$1,446 a month

Lackawanna County: $1,539 a month

Without a mortgage

$709 a month

Lackawanna County: $673 a month

Owners with a mortgage

47%

Lackawanna County: 52%

In Scranton, 47% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,446 a month, against $1,539 in Lackawanna County. Without one it drops to $709.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Scranton rose 54% since 2015–2019, more than in Lackawanna County (32%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Scranton rose 34%, more than in Lackawanna County (27%).

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 25%, while home values changed +54% and rent +34%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureScrantonLackawanna CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.7%4.9%4.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.3%1.4%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.322.352.392.53
Drive alone 71%76%68%69%
Carpool 13%9%8%9%
Public transit 1%1%4%3%
Walk or bike 5%3%4%3%
Work from home 9%10%16%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Lackawanna County, the rental vacancy rate in Scranton is 5.7%.

Much as in Lackawanna County, 2.3% of households in Scranton have more than one person per room.

By size, households in Scranton look like those in Lackawanna County: 2.32 people on average.

More people carpool to work in Scranton than in Lackawanna County: 13% against 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Scranton?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Scranton, worth $158,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in Scranton, which is $50,739 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $62,408 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lackawanna County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Scranton. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,534 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,456

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$155,236
Total interest
$223,348
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,670 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,184 a month

  • Tight

    $1,184 to $1,522 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $1,522 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Scranton ($50,739 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,456
Principal & interest$1,052
Property tax$269
Home insurance$66
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$70

You need at least $5,534 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Scranton and Lackawanna County

Scranton is in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Scranton's own numbers

Typical home value
$158,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,048
Typical yearly household income
$50,739
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
2.04%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lackawanna County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,363
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lackawanna County.

Everything about Lackawanna County

Buying

Buying a home in Scranton

A typical home in Scranton is worth $158,100: 22% below the county and 38% below Pennsylvania. With the typical household income in Scranton ($50,739 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Scranton 3.1 years
  • Lackawanna 3.0 years
  • Pennsylvania 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lackawanna County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lackawanna County rose 74% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lackawanna County.

Period County Pennsylvania U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.9% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +48% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +74% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Scranton next to Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Scranton $158,100
  • Lackawanna $201,800
  • Pennsylvania $254,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Scranton $1,048
  • Lackawanna $1,007
  • Pennsylvania $1,209
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Scranton $50,739
  • Lackawanna $66,223
  • Pennsylvania $77,971
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Scranton next to Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania
Measure Scranton Lackawanna County Pennsylvania U.S.
Typical home value $158,100 $201,800 $254,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,048 $1,007 $1,209 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $50,739 $66,223 $77,971 $80,734
Households that own their home 50% 65% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,224 $3,012 $3,311 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.04% 1.49% 1.3% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 48% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lackawanna County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Scranton

For a typical $158,100 home in Scranton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Scranton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,456a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,534
    Cash to close
    $10,277
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $70

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,427a month

    Down payment
    $7,905
    Cash to close
    $12,648
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $75

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,191a month

    Down payment
    $31,620
    Cash to close
    $36,363
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,338a month

    Down payment
    $23,715
    Cash to close
    $28,458
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Scranton and for Lackawanna County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Scranton

2.04%of the home’s value each year

$3,224 a year for the typical owner in Scranton.

  • Scranton 2.04%
  • Lackawanna 1.49%
  • Pennsylvania 1.3%

What Pennsylvania publishes Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Pennsylvania

Flood risk in Lackawanna County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lackawanna County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.6%
2,657
Of those, with NFIP insurance
29%
County Pennsylvania U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.6% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 29% 23% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Scranton

Typical rent in Scranton is $1,048 a month: 4% above the county. In Scranton, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lackawanna County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,363 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.21 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lackawanna County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $949 $18.25 $37,960
1 bedroom $1,106 $21.27 $44,240
2 bedrooms $1,363 $26.21 $54,520
3 bedrooms $1,786 $34.35 $71,440
4 bedrooms $1,962 $37.73 $78,480

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Scranton

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Scranton has 7 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,340 in 18505 to $1,570 in 18507.

5 of the 7 are above the fair market rent for Lackawanna County ($1,363).

  • 18503 $1,530$2,000
  • 18504 $1,360$1,780
  • 18505 $1,340$1,760
  • 18507 $1,570$2,060
  • 18508 $1,440$1,890
  • 18509 $1,380$1,810
  • 18510 $1,460$1,910

6 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Scranton when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Scranton

HUD lists 29 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Scranton. These are the largest.

  • Old Forge Housing 2 Little League Blvd, Scranton 18504 314 low-income homes · Run by Lackawanna County Housing Authority · Average payment: $408 a month · Average wait: 15 months (570) 342-7629
  • Hilltop Manor 2413 S Webster Ave, Scranton 18505 250 low-income homes · Run by Scranton Housing Authority · Average payment: $379 a month · Average wait: 16 months (570) 348-4401
  • Adams High Rise Apartments 420 Adams Ave, Scranton 18510 248 homes, 245 low-income · Run by Scranton Housing Authority · Average payment: $352 a month · Average wait: 15 months (570) 348-4401
  • Mulberry Tower 499 Mulberry St, Scranton 18503 206 homes, 205 low-income · For older adults (570) 348-1771
  • Bangor Heights 1423 Monsey Ave, Scranton 18509 195 low-income homes · Run by Scranton Housing Authority · Average payment: $395 a month · Average wait: 18 months (570) 348-4401

See all 47 buildings in Lackawanna County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Scranton

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lackawanna County; none says it serves in Spanish.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Scranton

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Scranton or Lackawanna County. The ones below are statewide in Pennsylvania: they work in Scranton the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Pennsylvania

Housing counselors near Scranton

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Scranton, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania

    410 Olive St, Scranton · 1 miles away

    • Homelessness services
    • Rental counseling
    (570) 343-8835

  • Neighborworks Northeastern Pa/NHS of Lackawanna County

    815 Smith St, Scranton · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (570) 558-2490

  • Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne County

    165 Amber Ln, Wilkes Barre · 16 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 2 more
    (570) 826-0510

Every agency in Lackawanna County All counseling agencies in Pennsylvania

Help in Spanish near Scranton

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Scranton

HUD’s record names them for Scranton or Lackawanna County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Scranton Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (570) 348-4401
  • Lackawanna County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (570) 342-7629

One other authority has an office in Lackawanna County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lackawanna County

These cities are also in Lackawanna County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lackawanna County Housing in Pennsylvania

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Scranton, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lackawanna County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Scranton.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Scranton

Short answers with the numbers for Scranton and all of Lackawanna County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Scranton?

The typical home value in Scranton is $158,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lackawanna County it is $201,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Scranton?

Typical rent in Scranton is $1,048 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lackawanna County is $1,363.

What is the FHA loan limit in Scranton?

Scranton uses the FHA limit for all of Lackawanna County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Scranton?

The typical homeowner in Scranton pays $3,224 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.04% of the home’s value; in Lackawanna County, the rate is 1.49%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Scranton?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lackawanna County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).