Scranton--Wilkes-Barre receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
Binghamton
Opportunity
56 · Top 48%
vs51 · Bottom 41%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs33 · Bottom 24%
Climate
63 · Bottom 41%
vs60 · Bottom 24%
Physical resilience
68 · Top 32%
vs52 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 32%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
54 · Bottom 16%
vs75 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 43%
vs32 · Bottom 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | Binghamton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 569,788 | 245,242 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,158 | $64,590 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,939 | $37,016 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 326/sq mi | 200/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $187,200 | $156,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,003 | $939 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.4% | 67.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.5% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 29.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 17.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 597 | 424 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -6.4% | -2.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 38.7" | 42.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 77 mi | 44 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 21.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Binghamton
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre
61
Your Score
63
Area Score
Binghamton
58
Your Score
58
Area Score
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Full profiles: Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area · Binghamton, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology