Your EZ Home Search Guide to Scranton, PA

Welcome to Scranton, a Pennsylvania city made famous in the hit comedy “The Office!” You won’t find Pam and Jim wandering Scranton’s streets, but you will find a charming small city that’s been built and rebuilt thanks to industrious, hard-working people. Where once coal plant smoke choked the cities, today is a hub with a bustling downtown area, picturesque parks, and quaint suburbs.

So if you’re looking for a place in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a great sense of community, discover what Scranton has in store.

We want to make things easier in your home search, so we’ve compiled this handy guide with insider information about Scranton, like the different parts of town and local attractions. Let us show you how easy it can be to search for real estate in northeast Pennsylvania!

About Scranton, PA

Scranton’s storied town history dates to 1786. It grew first as a lumber town known as Deep Hollow, but by the 1850s, the newly dubbed Scranton became a major industrial center. Thanks to the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, and others, it was a major hub for the mining industry. Producing coal, iron, and steel, Scranton was a key player in the Industrial Revolution and became wealthy, as seen in some historic homes.

Besides manufacturing, Scranton was also a city of innovation. It got the nickname “Electric City,” turning this period because it developed the electric trolley system to move its citizens around town. It also had one of the first buildings to install light bulbs and was an early adopter of electric street lighting.

But the coal and steel industries started to wane at the turn of the last century. Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest city experienced change. The mines are now closed, and many former textile and steel mills shuttered, gone, or repurposed. Transitioning from an industrial powerhouse in the late 1800s to a more diverse economy today hasn’t been easy, but Scranton proves it has the grit to reinvent itself.

Getting around Scranton

Even though Scranton pioneered the electric trolley, most commuters rely on private vehicles for transportation. However, the outdated road infrastructure is often congested. Most of Scranton is laid out on a gridded system, so it’s pretty easy to navigate.

The primary route connecting Scranton to nearby areas like Wilkes-Barre and the north/south regions is Interstate 81 and 84. Still, those highways are frequently under construction, making the overcrowding worse.

You can use the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) buses, which operate within downtown Scranton and nearby neighborhoods, but the timetables may not suit your schedule.

Scranton job market

The local economy waxed and waned over the years. That cycle made Scranton more resilient as it diversified its job offerings and continues to be concerned about attracting and keeping diverse industries in the town.

Find plentiful career opportunities in manufacturing, construction, trade, and transportation. The University of Scranton and Procter & Gamble are major employers, creating a robust education and healthcare sector. Additionally, Scranton’s job market has some larger companies specializing in insurance and financial services.

Can’t find what you want here? Scranton is conveniently located near Interstates 81 and 84, which plug into the highway network that can take you to Harrisburg, Allentown, and New York City. Quite a few of its workforce commutes to work in New York City or parts of New Jersey, although that might be fewer now with the rise of remote work.

How crowded is Scranton?

As of the 2020 US census, 76,328 people called Scranton home, making it the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania. Its entire metro region, which included next-door Dunmore, Taylor, and Old Forge, had 562,037 residents.

Scranton’s part of a contiguous network of five cities and over 40 boroughs built in a straight line in the Lackawanna River valley. It’s also the seventh-largest city or borough in Pennsylvania.

What is the cost of living in Scranton, PA?

If you’ve heard Scranton is affordable, you’d be right. One index measure claims living here is 21% less expensive than the national average. That also makes it 15% cheaper than the Pennsylvania average.

Housing is where you’ll realize the most cost savings. This is good news because housing expenses are usually the most significant part of our budgets. Scranton’s housing market was 58% below the national average!

But it’s not the only category with cost savings. Scranton residents paid less for groceries and health care than in many other US cities. Only miscellaneous costs–movie tickets, entertainment, child care–tended to cost more.

In 2022, MIT estimated a family of four with one working adult and two children needed $63,865 in income after taxes to cover their expenses.

What is real estate like in Scranton?

Central Scranton feels like stepping into a gothic novel, with awe-inspiring architecture at City Hall, the courthouse, the churches, and the schools. The city’s historic architecture depicts a bygone era of stone, arches, and stained glass construction, hinting at 19th-century wealth. As you move into the suburbs, the charm doesn’t fade; it simply changes. Tree-lined streets and old houses give Scranton a quaint look.

With Scranton’s low cost of living, home buyers find it a great place to buy. But, that affordable housing means competition can be high, especially for starter homes.

To give you a snapshot in time, the city had 255 listings in May 2023 at a median price of $170,000, a figure that was up 7% year-over-year. That’s well below April 2023’s national median of $402,500.

What are the best neighborhoods in Scranton, PA?

The city breaks down into seven overarching districts: West Side, the Hill Section (East Scranton), East Mountain, Minooka, South Scranton, North Scranton, and Downtown. Like many cities, the boundary lines of these areas may not be easily identifiable or clearly defined. They also tend to have subsections within them.

Downtown Scranton has been revitalized into a thriving business and retail center fringed with mixed-used spaces popular with creative professionals. Take the funky Bogart Court as an example; this walkable arts district is where many cafes, bars, retail shops, and restaurants have opened. Like many downtowns, Scranton is the center for attractions. Visitors see the Electric Trolley Museum, Steamtown Historic Site, and the old iron furnaces. On the far side, the Lackawanna River Heritage path provides a view of downtown and allows cyclists and pedestrians to stretch their legs.

Clustered in The Hill section on the eastern side of downtown Scranton are the Commonwealth Medical Hospitals and two college campuses: The University of Scranton and Lackawanna College. But even with these campuses, The Hill has plenty of residential real estate. Much of it is historical estates, as this is where Scranton’s industrial barons built homes to escape the churning coal plants. But as manufacturing waned, the estates were parceled up. The Hill became a diverse neighborhood with people of all backgrounds. The popular Nay Aug Park is part of The Hill.

Like the Hill Section, industrial elites drove Green Ridge’s development, but it has since diversified over time. Today it is known for its stunning Victorian houses. The tree-lined Green Ridge Street has a picturesque entrance into Dunmore, a next-door independent city. Green Ridge is also notable for being President Joe Biden’s childhood neighborhood. The intersection in front of his former home was named “Joe Biden Way” shortly after his election in 2020.

About 29% of the city’s residents live in West Scranton across the Lackawanna River from downtown. Locals know it as the “West Side.” It’s prized for its walkability, a result of its development during the New Urbanism era. This design practice follows a classic neighborhood concept with residential blocks, schools, churches, and parks conveniently close to each other. Today North Main Avenue is the community’s primary business and entertainment hub. Homes often have wide porches.

The South Side neighborhood includes the Flats, Nativity Section, East Mountain, and Minooka. The South Side Farmers Market is a popular neighborhood attraction that attracts large weekend crowds. It was established in 2010 and has both indoor and outdoor sections. City parks include Connell Park, which has a dog park and bike pump track. This has become a popular spot for kids in the neighborhood and also attracts visitors from other areas nearby.

Minooka is a suburban neighborhood about as south as you can get. It has a rich history as a primarily sizable Irish community. The area boasts many small businesses, beloved restaurants, bars, and shops situated near a double main street loop at its center. Residents appreciate its convenience to I-81 and Montage Mountain.

Between Lake Scranton and Nay Aug Park is the East Mountain section, a community surrounded by trees and with excellent access to green spaces. In the past, East Mountain was known for coal mining and heavy industry. Today the area is becoming a popular spot for recreational activities, with most centered around Lake Scranton and the Marine Corps League Museum. Robinson Park has a playground; a walking trail starts here and loops around Lake Scranton. Due to its elevation, East Mountain has a lovely lookout spot with views of downtown Scranton. Additionally, the homes in East Mountain tend to be newer and larger than those found in the rest of the city.

What is there to do in Scranton?

The previously mentioned Nay Aug Park is referred to as the “jewel of the city.” The stunning landscape is filled with an impressive array of tree species that can be enjoyed while walking along the Roaring Brook Gorge. The Wenzel Treehouse provides an excellent vantage point for beautiful views. In the summer months, the park hosts concerts twice a week; locals also come for the annual car shows, craft shows, and a holiday light show.

And residents get to have fun all year at Scranton’s Montage Mountain. In summer, cool off at the outdoor waterpark. For winter sports lovers, shred the ski and snowboard trails for an adrenaline rush. Montage Mountain also features mountain coasters, zip lines, and alpine slides available year-round.

The Electric City Trolley Museum gives visitors a fascinating glimpse into Scranton’s past as one of America’s first electrified cities. The exhibits have vintage trolleys used in the city until 1954 and displays illustrating how this technology worked.

If you like to party, the good news is Scranton knows how to throw a good festival. Four major events are on its calendar. It kicks off with First Night Scranton every New Year’s Eve, drawing locals and tourists to enjoy family-friendly entertainment and carriage rides while watching fireworks. March brings out the large St. Patrick’s Day parades.

At the end of summer, La Festa Italiana dishes out an annual four-day event celebrating Italian culture, cuisine, and music. It began in 1976 during the bicentennial celebration of the United States. People of all ethnic backgrounds are welcome to attend and enjoy the food, entertainment, and culture every Labor Day weekend.

Besides these annual festivities, Scranton has more regular things to do. For example, First Friday Scranton is a monthly event featuring cultural activities at local restaurants, cafes, galleries, boutiques, and small businesses.

Living in Scranton, PA

This city is bursting with life and many fantastic opportunities for folks who want to make it their home sweet home. Scranton will blow you away with its incredible affordability, whether you’re hunting for a cozy starter home or a dreamy forever residence. And you can have that low cost of living while still having a well-rounded life with parks, schools, and employment opportunities. So come explore Scranton, PA, with a local real estate agent.