Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 42079
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Luzerne County has 327,675 residents and ranks #12 by population among Pennsylvania county equivalents. Median household income is $63,691. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Pennsylvania
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Luzerne County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Luzerne County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $174,100 median home value and $1,004/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,691, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Luzerne County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, median home value, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 25.3% and life expectancy is 74.8 years.
Potential advantages
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,320 residents, rank #19 of 65 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Median home value: $174,100, rank #24 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.3%, rank #29 of 67 available Pennsylvania counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Unemployment rate: 4.5%, rank #61 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 19.8%, rank #57 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 74.8 years, rank #54 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Pennsylvania
Rank and range use only counties in Pennsylvania with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
$63,691; below the state county median of $66,318.
State rank #43 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey$174,100; below the state county median of $202,200.
State rank #24 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey$1,004/mo; above the state county median of $901/mo.
State rank #44 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey4.5%; above the state county median of 3.9%.
State rank #61 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics25.3%; above the state county median of 23.9%.
State rank #29 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey74.8 years; below the state county median of 76.2 years.
State rank #54 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps19.8%; above the state county median of 18.1%.
State rank #57 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps6.7%; below the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #32 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps1 per 1,320 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,736 residents.
State rank #19 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps1 per 668 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 597 residents.
State rank #41 of 67 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Luzerne County FAQ
Is Luzerne County a good place to live?
Luzerne County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, median home value, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 25.3% and life expectancy is 74.8 years.
What should I know before moving to Luzerne County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $174,100 median home value and $1,004/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,691, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Luzerne County?
Luzerne County has 327,675 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Luzerne County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 42079; the parent state FIPS is 42.
What is the median household income in Luzerne County?
The ACS median household income is $63,691.
How much does housing cost in Luzerne County?
Housing benchmarks are $174,100 median home value and $1,004/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $63,691, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Luzerne County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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