Rents are right about where Wilkes Barre's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,311 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Wilkes Barre is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Wilkes Barre changed +7.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($48,515) is $1,213 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,110); a 3-bedroom is $1,450.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Wilkes Barre. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Wilkes Barre, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 20.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Wilkes Barre, PA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Wilkes Barre, PA has climbed by $287 per month, settling near $1,311 after starting the period at $1,024. On the earnings side, the typical household in Wilkes Barre, PA now reports about $48,515, up from $42,430 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 48.8% of households rent today, against 52.1% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Wilkes Barre, PA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Wilkes Barre on your salary?
At $1,311/mo, how Wilkes Barre rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Wilkes Barre rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Wilkes Barre. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Wilkes Barre
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Wilkes Barre is $1,311/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $920/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,450/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($48,515/yr), Wilkes Barre ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Wilkes Barre?
Is rent going up or down in Wilkes Barre?
How does Wilkes Barre rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wilkes Barre?
At $1,311/mo, rent takes ~32% of Wilkes Barre's median household income ($48,515/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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