Home Insurance in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Homes in Luzerne County carry a median value of $174,100 - 32% lower than the Pennsylvania median.
The typical home in Luzerne County was built around 1960. About 50% of homes were built before 1960, about 5 points above Pennsylvania's 45%. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them.
In Luzerne County, the housing stock is 77% single-family homes, 8% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
54% of owner-occupied homes in Luzerne County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 68% of occupied homes in Luzerne County are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 11%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Homes heated with propane and fuel oil can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Luzerne County, 50% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Luzerne County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are winter weather (Very High), inland flooding (Relatively High) and earthquake (Relatively Low). Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake, so separate coverage is usually needed.
Luzerne County had 4,405 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Pennsylvania, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,217 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $174,100 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1960 |
| Owner-occupied share | 68% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 54% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Winter Weather (Very High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Earthquake (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 4,405 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,217 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Ashley
- Avoca
- Conyngham
- Courtdale
- Dallas
- Dupont
- Edwardsville
- Exeter
- Forty Fort
- Freeland
- Harveys Lake
- Hazleton
- Jeddo
- Kingston
- Laflin
- Larksville
- Laurel Run
- Luzerne
- Nescopeck
- New Columbus
- Nuangola
- Penn Lake Park
- Pittston
- Plymouth
- Pringle
- Shickshinny
- Sugar Notch
- Swoyersville
- Warrior Run
- West Pittston
- West Wyoming
- White Haven
- Wilkes-Barre
- Wyoming
- Yatesville
Smaller communities
-
Bear Creek Village
- Median home value: $412,700
- Median year built: 1966
- Owner-occupied share: 99%
-
Duryea
- Median home value: $157,900
- Median year built: 1952
- Owner-occupied share: 69%
-
Hughestown
- Median home value: $167,800
- Median year built: 1955
- Owner-occupied share: 71%
-
Nanticoke
- Median home value: $108,100
- Median year built: 1946
- Owner-occupied share: 56%
-
West Hazleton
- Median home value: $151,800
- Median year built: 1950
- Owner-occupied share: 55%
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)