Wilkes Barre, PA · standard
ZIP Code 18705
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,806
- 1,047/sq mi High-density area
- $59,344
- Median income Below-median income area
- $140,700
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 24.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wilkes Barre pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 28th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 23rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,047
- people per sq mi
- 61%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18705 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 18705 (Wilkes Barre, PA) rose +19.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 177.5 in 2023 to 211.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 18705 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, home to 14,806 residents across 14.1 square miles, a density of 1,047 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 18705 reports a modest median household income of $59,344 (24% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,425. The poverty rate is 22.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $140,700 (38% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $1,024; owner occupancy is 60.8%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.5, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Luzerne County, so 18705 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 18705
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilkes Barre, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18705.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
45 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
34 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
34 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
27 establishments
- Construction 17
Construction
17 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 18705, 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
14,806
Population
14.1
Area (sq mi)
1,047
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 18705?
36.5
Median Age
52.7%
Male
47.3%
Female
9.4%
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?
$59,344
Median Household Income
-24% vs state ZIP avg
$30,425
Per Capita Income
22.9%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
21.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18705 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Wilkes Barre, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$59,344 24th percentile higher than 24% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania 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
7,096housing units
7,096
Total Housing Units
6,339
Occupied Units
757
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$140,700
Median Home Value
-38% vs state ZIP avg
$1,024
Median Rent
1942
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
+19.4%
YoY Change (2024)
212
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+112%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 18705 have increased 19.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +112% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.9% | 133 |
| 2021 | +18.6% | 158 |
| 2022 | +12.9% | 179 |
| 2023 | -0.7% | 177 |
| 2024 | +19.4% | 212 |
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 242 business establishments in ZIP 18705, employing approximately 4,029 people with a combined annual payroll of $160,106,000.
242
Businesses
4,029
Employees
$160.1M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 45 | 18.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 34 | 14.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 34 | 14.1% |
| Retail trade | 27 | 11.2% |
| Construction | 17 | 7.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 17 | 7.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 | 5.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 5.8% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 3.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 2.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 1.2% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.2% |
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 18705 vs 18704 →
ZIP 18705 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
- 18643 12,908
Pittston (18643)
12,908 residents
- 18651 8,880
Plymouth (18651)
8,880 residents
- 18644 7,546
Wyoming (18644)
7,546 residents
- 18701 3,447
Wilkes Barre (18701)
3,447 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18705 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18705 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18644
Wyoming (18644)
$70,026 median income
- 18704
Kingston (18704)
$64,444 median income
- 18643
Pittston (18643)
$63,125 median income
- 18640
Pittston (18640)
$60,862 median income
- 18705
Wilkes Barre (18705)
$59,344 median income
- 18706
Wilkes Barre (18706)
$58,558 median income
- 18702
Wilkes Barre (18702)
$56,378 median income
- 18709
Luzerne (18709)
$42,135 median income
- 18651
Plymouth (18651)
$41,990 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 18705 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18704 | Kingston, PA | 31,206 | 2.7 mi |
| 18709 | Luzerne, PA | 2,903 | 2.9 mi |
| 18701 | Wilkes Barre, PA | 3,447 | 2.9 mi |
| 18644 | Wyoming, PA | 7,546 | 4.5 mi |
| 18643 | Pittston, PA | 12,908 | 6.6 mi |
| 18702 | Wilkes Barre, PA | 40,295 | 5.1 mi |
| 18640 | Pittston, PA | 17,155 | 5.6 mi |
| 18706 | Wilkes Barre, PA | 16,105 | 5.9 mi |
| 18653 | Ransom, PA | 132 | 8.5 mi |
| 18651 | Plymouth, PA | 8,880 | 6.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18705, 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 (14,806 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 18705 in?
ZIP code 18705 (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 18705?
ZIP code 18705 in Wilkes Barre, PA has a population of 14,806 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18705?
The median household income in ZIP 18705 is $59,344, which is 22% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18705?
The median home value in ZIP 18705 is $140,700, which is 49% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18705?
The largest racial group in ZIP 18705 is White at 69.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 23.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18705?
ZIP code 18705 has 242 business establishments employing approximately 4,029 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18705?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18705 are: Health care and social assistance (45), Accommodation and food services (34), Other services (except public administration) (34). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18705?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18705 increased by 19.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 112%. 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 18705?
In ZIP code 18705, 59.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.9% 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 18705?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18705 is 21.7 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 18705?
In ZIP code 18705, approximately 60.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18705?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18705 is 22.9% 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 18705's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18705 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.