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 High-density area
- $58,558
- Median income Below-median income area
- $138,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 18.6%
- 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.
- 27th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 22nd 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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 18706 (Wilkes Barre, PA) rose +13.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 201.2 in 2023 to 227.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,645. The poverty rate is 20.8%, 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 $138,300 (39% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $965; owner occupancy is 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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Luzerne County, so 18706 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 18706
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilkes Barre, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18706.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
40 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
32 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
29 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
27 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
24 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 18706?
38.3
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
6.3%
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?
$58,558
Median Household Income
-25% vs state ZIP avg
$32,645
Per Capita Income
20.8%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
19.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18706 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)
$58,558 23rd percentile higher than 23% 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
7,761housing units
7,761
Total Housing Units
6,630
Occupied Units
1,131
Vacant Units
2.44
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$138,300
Median Home Value
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 18702
Wilkes Barre (18702)
40,295 residents
- 18704
Kingston (18704)
31,206 residents
- 18706 16,105
Wilkes Barre (18706)
16,105 residents
- 18707 15,557
Mountain Top (18707)
15,557 residents
- 18705 14,806
Wilkes Barre (18705)
14,806 residents
- 18634 13,569
Nanticoke (18634)
13,569 residents
- 18651 8,880
Plymouth (18651)
8,880 residents
- 18708 8,817
Shavertown (18708)
8,817 residents
- 18644 7,546
Wyoming (18644)
7,546 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18706 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18706 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18707
Mountain Top (18707)
$109,567 median income
- 18708
Shavertown (18708)
$98,545 median income
- 18644
Wyoming (18644)
$70,026 median income
- 18704
Kingston (18704)
$64,444 median income
- 18634
Nanticoke (18634)
$61,439 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 $42,135
Luzerne (18709)
$42,135 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18706, 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 (16,105 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 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.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 18706's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18706 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.