Home Insurance in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Homes in Wilkes-Barre carry a median value of $117,200 - 33% lower than the Luzerne County median.
The typical home in Wilkes-Barre was built around 1943. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 66% of homes were built before 1960, about 16 points above Luzerne County's 50%.
In Wilkes-Barre, the housing stock is 64% single-family homes and 18% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
51% of owner-occupied homes in Wilkes-Barre carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
About 51% of occupied homes in Wilkes-Barre are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 16%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Most homes in Wilkes-Barre - 73% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
FEMA rates Luzerne County's overall risk as Relatively Moderate, led by winter weather (Very High). Luzerne County had 4,405 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Luzerne County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Pennsylvania is $1,217 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $117,200 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1943 |
| Owner-occupied share | 51% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 51% |
| Top county hazard | Winter Weather (Very High) |
| Active NFIP policies in Luzerne County | 4,405 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,217 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- 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)