Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Luzerne County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 325,978. It is the 12th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 38 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Luzerne County is 42.1 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Luzerne County is $62,321. This is 18% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.4%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $163,800. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $240,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Luzerne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Luzerne County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.9%. The Black or African American population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.9% vs 8.4%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.7%.

Education

25.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.7%.