Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Wilkes-Barre, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.

Wilkes-Barre rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Wilkes-Barre median rent
$1,337/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Pennsylvania)
$60,182/yr
Rent as % of income
26.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,015, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,505/mo in rent. Wilkes-Barre's median rent of $1,337 leaves roughly $168/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 46.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Wilkes-Barre, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Bethel Park, PA
$1,336/mo (26.6% of income)
Hanover, PA
$1,336/mo (26.6% of income)
Aliquippa, PA
$1,336/mo (26.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilkes-Barre

View full rent data for Wilkes-Barre, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Wilkes-Barre, PA?

Median rent in Wilkes-Barre is $1,337 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Pennsylvania earns about $60,182 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Wilkes-Barre?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Pennsylvania (~$60,182/yr) supports up to $1,505 a month in rent. Wilkes-Barre's current median rent is $1,337/mo, which leaves a $168/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Wilkes-Barre?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Pennsylvania works roughly 46.2 hours a month to cover Wilkes-Barre's median rent of $1,337.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilkes-Barre for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Bethel Park ($1,336/mo), Hanover ($1,336/mo), Aliquippa ($1,336/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Pennsylvania state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Wilkes-Barre, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.