ZIP Code 18706
standardSource:
Wilkes Barre · Luzerne County · Pennsylvania
- Population
- 16,105
- Median income
- $58,558
- Median home value
- $138,300
- Bachelor's or higher
- 18.6%
- Land area
- 68.6 sq mi
235/sq mi
▼ 23% vs US
higher than 27% of US ZIPs
▼ 50% vs US
higher than 22% of US ZIPs
Median age 38.3
New York
ZIP code 18706 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania has a population of 16,105. The median household income is $58,558, which is 23% below the national average. Median home value is $138,300, 50% below the US average. 18.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 18706 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 68.6 square miles in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The area is home to 16,105 residents, producing a population density of 235 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 18706 against Pennsylvania and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 18706 sits at $58,558 (25% below the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $32,645. The poverty rate stands at 20.8% and the unemployment rate at 4.7%. On housing, the median home value is $138,300 (39% below the state average) with median rent at $965 per month, and 66.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 18706 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Luzerne County, so you can benchmark 18706 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 18706
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$32,645
Per Capita Income
20.8%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
19.1 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
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
$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 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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 18706 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 18706? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 18706? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18706? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18706? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18706? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18706? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 18706? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 18706? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 18706? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18706? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Wilkes Barre, PA
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.