RANK #239 / 1001 NAT · #15 / 44 PA · POP 327,675
1YR FORECAST: +1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Ricketts Glen State Park, with its 22 named waterfalls cascading through ancient forests, stands out as a distinctive natural landmark in Luzerne County. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania, the county is approximately two hours from both Philadelphia and New York City, offering a balance of accessibility and natural scenery. Commuting within the county is facilitated by local bus services like the Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) and Hazleton Public Transit (HPT), with intercity bus services connecting to major metropolitan areas. The community offers a blend of urban areas like Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, alongside smaller towns and thick forests. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking across numerous state parks, lakes, and trails.
Life in Luzerne County is characterized by a focus on community values and an affordable cost of living. The area attracts a mix of young professionals and retirees, with many residents owning their homes. Educational options include various public school districts and private institutions. The economy, historically tied to the anthracite coal industry, has seen recent growth driven by commercial and industrial development, particularly in sectors like warehousing and technology. This development, often on former mining land, is supported by initiatives aimed at attracting businesses and creating jobs.
Luzerne County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.0% YoY, population +0.5%, wages +4.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 6.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2022). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Susquehanna Data Center
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$20,000M | Planned |
|
Nacero Natural Gas to Gasoline Production Plant
Nacero Inc.
|
$6,000M | Proposed |
|
Project Hazelnut Data Center Campus
NorthPoint Development
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Transco Regional Energy Access Pipeline Expansion (Luzerne County portion)
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Williams Company)
|
$800M | Completed |
|
QTS Data Center Campus
QTS
|
$580M | Under Construction |
|
NorthPoint Development Logistics Center
NorthPoint Development
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, Luzerne County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $63,691 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in PA.
By national standards, Luzerne County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $174,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,004/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Luzerne County's population is growing — up +0.5% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.1%). Home values shifted +2.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.08% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Luzerne County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.