Scranton, Pennsylvania

Moving to Scranton, Pennsylvania

Is moving to Scranton Pennsylvania a good idea? For many renters, relocating households, and remote workers, yes. This four-season city in Lackawanna County sits roughly two hours from New York and Philadelphia, with a cost of living about 10 to 11 percent below the national average and housing running 37 to 42 percent lower. Plan for cold winters, local taxes, and car dependence. KT Rents is a nationwide, broker-owned rental resource, and we’ll walk you through the real tradeoffs so you can find the right place. Figures below are point-in-time, and some reflect the metro area, not the city alone.

Cost of Living and Housing in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Affordability is the draw. Scranton offers a cost of living roughly 30 percent cheaper than Philadelphia and about 50 percent cheaper than Boston. The median owner-occupied home value is $158,100 (2020 to 2024 ACS), and median gross rent is $1,048. That rent figure isn’t the same as a current asking rent: one-bedrooms often list between $1,249 and $1,552 today. Date and label any number you see, and note whether it’s city or metro data. Older housing stock is common across the area, so ask the right questions before signing:

• Heating type and which utilities add to your monthly cost
• Off-street parking and snow removal responsibility
• Laundry, pet rules, and the maintenance-request process

Whether you want a rental or a home for sale, run the numbers with our Rent Calculator and Rent vs. Buy Calculator before you commit.

Choosing a Scranton Neighborhood Without Relying on “Best” Lists

Skip the “best” rankings. Match a neighborhood to your routine instead. You’ll find a lot of variety here. Downtown offers dining and culture. The Hill Section sits near Nay Aug Park. Green Ridge, South Scranton, West Scranton and Hyde Park, North Scranton and Providence, Minooka, and East Mountain each carry their own feel. Compare by practical criteria: commute direction, transit route, property type, parking, hills and winter access, park proximity, and your assigned schools. Scranton also puts parks and nearby mountains within easy reach, which matters if outdoor recreation is part of your week.

Jobs, Schools, and Getting Around the Scranton Area

The economy leans on healthcare, education, logistics and warehousing, manufacturing, and hospitality, so job opportunities span several fields. Much of that data reflects the metro, not the city. Broadband reaches 84.1 percent of households, which helps remote workers. On schools, verify the assigned schools before signing a lease. The district requires two proofs of residency, and a lease counts as one. Check performance on the Future Ready PA Index. The area also hosts 16 post-secondary institutions, so college options run deep, enrolling over 45,000 students.

A car is usually needed. COLTS covers core routes, and I-81 and I-476 handle regional travel. Note: a Scranton-to-NYC train is proposed, not operating. For now, it’s about a two-hour drive to New York or Philadelphia.

Weather, Safety, and Everyday Living in Lackawanna County

Winter is real here. Four distinct seasons, cold snowy months, and roughly 45 inches of annual snowfall. Confirm who clears snow, secure off-street parking, and weigh hills and steps. Don’t judge winter access from a summer tour. For safety, treat crime data as point-in-time reporting and research the specific address. Everyday living has plenty close by: Montage Mountain for skiing, a summer park, and Pavilion concerts; PNC Field for Triple-A baseball; Steamtown; the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour 300 feet underground; and Nay Aug Park. Millions of visitors have explored these sites over the years, and residents enjoy them year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions