Wilkes Barre, PA · standard
ZIP Code 18702
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 40,295
- 224/sq mi High-density area
- $56,378
- Median income Below-median income area
- $131,900
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 23.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wilkes Barre pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 23rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 20th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 224
- people per sq mi
- 60%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18702 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 18702 (Wilkes Barre, PA) rose +31.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 198.0 in 2023 to 259.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 18702 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with 40,295 residents across 179.6 square miles, a density of 224 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 18702 reports a modest median household income of $56,378 (28% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,728. The poverty rate is 18.7%, with unemployment at 8.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $131,900 (42% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $1,011; owner occupancy is 59.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 23.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.1, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Luzerne County, so 18702 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 18702
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilkes Barre, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18702.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
243 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
188 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
162 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
113 establishments
- Construction 68
Construction
68 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 18702, Wilkes Barre, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
40,295
Population
179.6
Area (sq mi)
224
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 18702?
39.1
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
15.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$56,378
Median Household Income
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$31,728
Per Capita Income
18.7%
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Unemployment Rate
21.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18702 ranks nationally
Wilkes Barre, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$56,378 23rd percentile higher than 23% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
19,663housing units
19,663
Total Housing Units
16,951
Occupied Units
2,712
Vacant Units
2.36
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$131,900
Median Home Value
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$1,011
Median Rent
1951
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+31.1%
YoY Change (2024)
260
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+160%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 18702 have increased 31.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +160% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.0% | 132 |
| 2021 | +13.2% | 149 |
| 2022 | +26.8% | 189 |
| 2023 | +4.7% | 198 |
| 2024 | +31.1% | 260 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,142 business establishments in ZIP 18702, employing approximately 22,980 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,036,002,000.
1,142
Businesses
22,980
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 243 | 21.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 188 | 16.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 162 | 14.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 113 | 9.9% |
| Construction | 68 | 6.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 57 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 52 | 4.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 51 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 44 | 3.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 41 | 3.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 29 | 2.5% |
| Information | 26 | 2.3% |
| Manufacturing | 22 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 15 | 1.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 13 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.1% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 18702 vs 18602 →
ZIP 18702 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18702
Wilkes Barre (18702)
40,295 residents
- 18704
Kingston (18704)
31,206 residents
- 18640
Pittston (18640)
17,155 residents
- 18706 16,105
Wilkes Barre (18706)
16,105 residents
- 18705 14,806
Wilkes Barre (18705)
14,806 residents
- 18641 6,812
Pittston (18641)
6,812 residents
- 18661 5,730
White Haven (18661)
5,730 residents
- 18642 4,345
Duryea (18642)
4,345 residents
- 18701 3,447
Wilkes Barre (18701)
3,447 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18702 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18702 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18602
Bear Creek (18602)
$160,962 median income
- 18641
Pittston (18641)
$75,708 median income
- 18661
White Haven (18661)
$75,057 median income
- 18704
Kingston (18704)
$64,444 median income
- 18642 $61,250
Duryea (18642)
$61,250 median income
- 18640 $60,862
Pittston (18640)
$60,862 median income
- 18705 $59,344
Wilkes Barre (18705)
$59,344 median income
- 18706 $58,558
Wilkes Barre (18706)
$58,558 median income
- 18702 $56,378
Wilkes Barre (18702)
$56,378 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 18702 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18602 | Bear Creek, PA | 257 | 2.5 mi |
| 18640 | Pittston, PA | 17,155 | 5.6 mi |
| 18705 | Wilkes Barre, PA | 14,806 | 5.1 mi |
| 18701 | Wilkes Barre, PA | 3,447 | 6.0 mi |
| 18642 | Duryea, PA | 4,345 | 9.2 mi |
| 18706 | Wilkes Barre, PA | 16,105 | 7.2 mi |
| 18661 | White Haven, PA | 5,730 | 9.4 mi |
| 18641 | Pittston, PA | 6,812 | 8.3 mi |
| 18704 | Kingston, PA | 31,206 | 7.4 mi |
| 18709 | Luzerne, PA | 2,903 | 7.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18702, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (40,295 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Luzerne County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 18702 in?
ZIP code 18702 (Wilkes Barre) is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Luzerne County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/luzerne-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 18702?
ZIP code 18702 in Wilkes Barre, PA has a population of 40,295 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18702?
The median household income in ZIP 18702 is $56,378, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18702?
The median home value in ZIP 18702 is $131,900, which is 53% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18702?
The largest racial group in ZIP 18702 is White at 60.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 27.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18702?
ZIP code 18702 has 1,142 business establishments employing approximately 22,980 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18702?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18702 are: Retail trade (243), Health care and social assistance (188), Accommodation and food services (162). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18702?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18702 increased by 31.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 160%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 18702?
In ZIP code 18702, 60.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 18702?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18702 is 21.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 18702?
In ZIP code 18702, approximately 59.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18702?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18702 is 18.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 18702's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18702 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wilkes Barre, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.