PlainZIP

Wilkes Barre, PA · standard

ZIP Code 18706

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

16,105
235/sq mi
$58,558
Median income
$138,300
Median home value
18.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wilkes Barre pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

27th pct
household income, US ZIPs
22th pct
home value, US ZIPs
235
people per sq mi
66%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18706 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 18706 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, home to 16,105 residents across 68.6 square miles, a density of 235 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 18706 reports a modest median household income of $58,558 (25% below the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $32,645. Poverty here runs at 20.8%, with unemployment measured at 4.7%. Median home value sits at $138,300 (39% below the state average), median rent at $965 a month, and owner-occupancy at 66.3%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Luzerne County, letting you compare 18706 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 18706

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilkes Barre, PA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18706.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 18706, 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

16,105

Population

68.6

Area (sq mi)

235

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 18706?

38.3

Median Age

49.5%

Male

50.5%

Female

6.3%

Foreign-Born

White 73.2%
African American 5.4%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 14.0%
Hispanic or Latino 19.2%

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?

$58,558

Median Household Income

-25% vs state

$32,645

Per Capita Income

20.8%

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Unemployment Rate

19.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 18706 ranks nationally

Wilkes Barre, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$58,558 27th percentile higher than 27% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 57.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

7,761

Total Housing Units

6,630

Occupied Units

1,131

Vacant Units

2.44

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 66.3%
Renter 33.7%

$138,300

Median Home Value

-39% vs state

$965

Median Rent

1958

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

+13.2%

YoY Change (2024)

228

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+128%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 18706 have increased 13.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +128% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.6% 141
2021 +12.1% 158
2022 +14.0% 180
2023 +12.1% 201
2024 +13.2% 228

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 275 business establishments in ZIP 18706, employing approximately 10,438 people with a combined annual payroll of $723,053,000.

275

Businesses

10,438

Employees

$723.1M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 40 14.6%
Other services (except public administration) 32 11.6%
Wholesale trade 29 10.6%
Manufacturing 27 9.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 24 8.7%
Health care and social assistance 24 8.7%
Accommodation and food services 23 8.4%
Transportation and warehousing 22 8.0%
Construction 15 5.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 11 4.0%
Finance and insurance 9 3.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 9 3.3%
Information 4 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.4%

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 18706 vs 18701 →

ZIP 18706 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18706 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 18706 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 18706 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
18701 Wilkes Barre, PA 3,447 3.0 mi
18707 Mountain Top, PA 15,557 4.9 mi
18704 Kingston, PA 31,206 5.1 mi
18651 Plymouth, PA 8,880 4.0 mi
18709 Luzerne, PA 2,903 5.7 mi
18634 Nanticoke, PA 13,569 5.8 mi
18705 Wilkes Barre, PA 14,806 5.9 mi
18708 Shavertown, PA 8,817 6.8 mi
18702 Wilkes Barre, PA 40,295 7.2 mi
18644 Wyoming, PA 7,546 8.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Luzerne County

18702 standard
Wilkes Barre, PA
Pop: 40,295
18704 standard
Kingston, PA
Pop: 31,206
18201 standard
Hazleton, PA
Pop: 27,516
18612 standard
Dallas, PA
Pop: 18,051
18640 standard
Pittston, PA
Pop: 17,155
18707 standard
Mountain Top, PA
Pop: 15,557

Related Areas

Luzerne County Wilkes Barre, PA Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 18706 in? ▼
ZIP code 18706 (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 18706? ▼
ZIP code 18706 in Wilkes Barre, PA has a population of 16,105 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18706? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 18706 is $58,558, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18706? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 18706 is $138,300, which is 50% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18706? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 18706 is White at 73.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18706? ▼
ZIP code 18706 has 275 business establishments employing approximately 10,438 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18706? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18706 are: Retail trade (40), Other services (except public administration) (32), Wholesale trade (29). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18706? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18706 increased by 13.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 128%. 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 18706? ▼
In ZIP code 18706, 57.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.6% 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 18706? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18706 is 19.1 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 18706? ▼
In ZIP code 18706, approximately 66.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18706? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18706 is 20.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.