Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Income Statistics
Luzerne County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Luzerne County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,503 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,215 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.3% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.0% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Luzerne County is about 18% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Luzerne County (4.1%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Luzerne County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania grew by 54.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,503 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Luzerne County
| Metric | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,399 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,869 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.8% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Luzerne County, it is 0.530, lower than Pennsylvania's 0.537, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $403,550 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 25% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $639 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.9% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 9,404 people are unemployed in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Luzerne County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 7.3% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2014 and fell as low as 5.7% in 2023.
Luzerne County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Luzerne County, PA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 326,964 residents against a local median of 65,382. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Luzerne County, PA an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 5% below the local median at $64,503 against $67,568. Luzerne County, PA has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luzerne County, PA | 326,964 | $64,503 #5/6 | 4.1%/yr #3/6 | 5.8% #4/6 | 0.530 #4/6 |
| Wyoming County, PA | 25,938 | $72,723 | 3.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.520 |
| Carbon County, PA | 65,382 | $67,568 | 3.6%/yr | 7.5% | 0.507 |
| Columbia County, PA | 65,057 | $64,069 | 4.0%/yr | 6.0% | 0.543 |
| Lackawanna County, PA | 216,127 | $66,702 | 4.6%/yr | 4.9% | 0.537 |
| Schuylkill County, PA | 143,391 | $68,265 | 4.9%/yr | 5.6% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Pennsylvania, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
Luzerne County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,503, about 18% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How fast is household income rising in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania rose 54%, from $41,762 to $64,503. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Pennsylvania as a whole: +54% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Luzerne County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania was $62,603, up 3% from $60,966 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Luzerne County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania was $53,730. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $64,503.
What is the Gini coefficient in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Luzerne County is 0.530. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 25% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $639 since 2009.
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