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.

Population327,675
Household income$63,691
Unemployment4.5%
Life expectancy74.8 years

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.

State rank#12 of 67
Smallest county327,675 residentsPhiladelphia County

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.

Median household income $63,691

$63,691; below the state county median of $66,318.

State rank #43 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value $174,100

$174,100; below the state county median of $202,200.

State rank #24 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent $1,004/mo

$1,004/mo; above the state county median of $901/mo.

State rank #44 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate 4.5%

4.5%; above the state county median of 3.9%.

State rank #61 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher 25.3%

25.3%; above the state county median of 23.9%.

State rank #29 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy 74.8 years

74.8 years; below the state county median of 76.2 years.

State rank #54 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health 19.8%

19.8%; above the state county median of 18.1%.

State rank #57 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured 6.7%

6.7%; below the state county median of 6.8%.

State rank #32 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access 1 per 1,320 residents

1 per 1,320 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,736 residents.

State rank #19 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access 1 per 668 residents

1 per 668 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 597 residents.

State rank #41 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Common 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.

Continue exploring

See the state context