HousingPermits

Metro area in Pennsylvania

Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metro area authorized 639 new housing units in 2025. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 1.1 units a year in 2021–2025, 23% of the national rate of 4.7. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2014, with 2,301 units; 2025 came to 28% of that.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 1,598 units (1,470 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 43 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,382 units (1,298 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 31 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,474 units (1,340 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 81 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,416 units (1,265 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 101 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 700 units (657 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 708 units (647 single-family, 27 in 2–4 unit, 34 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 687 units (665 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 439 units (411 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 8 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 470 units (450 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 516 units (429 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 2,301 units (2,113 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 831 units (800 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,018 units (846 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 152 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 580 units (425 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 553 units (487 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 32 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 528 units (450 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 584 units (444 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 114 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 644 units (537 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 77 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 608 units (524 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 46 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 573 units (488 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 35 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 596 units (518 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 16 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 639 units (517 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 55 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252014 high · 2,30108001,6002,4002004: 1,598 units (1,470 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 43 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,382 units (1,298 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 31 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,474 units (1,340 single-family, 53 in 2–4 unit, 81 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,416 units (1,265 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 101 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 700 units (657 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 29 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 708 units (647 single-family, 27 in 2–4 unit, 34 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 687 units (665 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 439 units (411 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 8 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 470 units (450 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 516 units (429 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 65 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 2,301 units (2,113 single-family, 106 in 2–4 unit, 82 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 831 units (800 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,018 units (846 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 152 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 580 units (425 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 553 units (487 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 32 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 528 units (450 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 584 units (444 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 114 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 644 units (537 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 77 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 608 units (524 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 46 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 573 units (488 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 35 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 596 units (518 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 16 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 639 units (517 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 55 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252014 high · 2,301

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Houses or apartments

In Scranton, 84% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 7.5% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is El Paso (7.4% in five-plus buildings). Duplexes to fourplexes are unusually common here: 8.1% of units, against 3.5% nationally.

2021–202584.4%84%8.1%7.5%2004–200692.2%92%4.3%3.5%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202584.4%84%8.1%7.5%2004–200692.2%92%4.3%3.5%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 3 other metro areas, among them Fargo, Victoria, San Jose. Annual permits fell from 1,598 during the mid-2000s boom to 439 in 2011, a drop of 72%. The nearest bust profile in the Middle Atlantic states was New York's (75%). The 2021–2025 pace of 612 units a year is 59% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 7.2%.

Where in the metro

Luzerne County accounted for 51% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Lackawanna County for 42%.

  • Luzerne County51% (295 in 2025)
  • Lackawanna County42% (277 in 2025)
  • Wyoming County6.8% (67 in 2025)

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 105 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Butler township, with 263 units or 8.6% of the total, followed by Luzerne County Part (unincorporated) with 232.

  • Butler township8.6% (263 units)
  • Luzerne County Part (unincorporated)7.6% (232 units)
  • Archbald borough4.6% (140 units)
  • South Abington township3.8% (115 units)
  • Hanover township3.5% (108 units)
  • Jefferson township2.8% (87 units)
  • Scott township2.7% (84 units)
  • Hazle township2.6% (81 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
New Haven, CT1,0201.873%
Reno, NV2,9518.545%
Portland-South Portland, ME3,4876.032%
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA6391.17.5%
Port St. Lucie, FL4,85312.116%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Scranton beside Portland, ME

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Pennsylvania. Counting rules.