Real Estate Investing in Scranton, Pennsylvania (18510)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Lackawanna County • Population: 14,629 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18510 (Scranton, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (69/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Scranton, PA (18510)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $202,454
Avg Monthly Rent $1,312
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,054
% Renters 59.7%

Market Analysis: 18510 Scranton

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Scranton's 18510 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $202K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 18510 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 18510 and stronger Scranton ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 18510 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Scranton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 18510. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Scranton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,312/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
39 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 18510

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+11.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$50,961/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $193,669 $1,730 6.4% +11.4% $64,556
4BR $224,604 $1,880 6.0% +9.8% $56,151
5BR $254,806 +9.8% $50,961

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$221K$193K$165K$136K$108K$80KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,447$1,377$1,306$1,236$1,166$1,096Nov 2024Sep 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18510 Compare?

Metric 18510 Scranton Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $202,454 $192,047 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 9.5% 8.7% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,312 $1,310 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18510? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

60% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18510 (Scranton, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+9.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $202,454
Monthly Rent $1,312
Price-to-Rent 12.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.8%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR 14.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +7.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
13.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18510

Population: 14,629

💰 Median Household Income
$49,054
This area
$49,054
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
59.7%
This area
59.7%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.2%
This area
30.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
27.9 years
This area
27.9 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.9%
Other/Mixed 14.7%
Asian 11.3%
Hispanic/Latino 10.1%
Black/African American 8.0%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.4%
This area
15.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 18510

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,261 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Northeast Intrmd Sch

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
923 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student
B+ Above Average

William Prescott #38

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student
B Good

Scranton HS

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
1,819 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence CS

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 1615 East Elm Street, Scranton
👥
320 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$28,148 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John F. Kennedy #7

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 Prospect Ave & Saginaw St, Scranton
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John G Whittier #2

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 700 Orchard St, Scranton
👥
452 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McNichols Plaza

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 1111 S Irving Ave, Scranton
👥
347 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student
A+ Excellent

South Scranton Intrmd Sch

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 355 Maple St, Scranton
👥
781 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,261 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 362 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Scranton
4,825 students · 0.7 mi
C
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
649 students · 0.7 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Scranton
205 students · 0.8 mi
C
Lackawanna College
1,939 students · 0.8 mi
B
Yeshivath Beth Moshe
41 students · 1.1 mi
C+
Marywood University
2,850 students · 1.9 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
838 students · 2.5 mi
D
Johnson College
627 students · 3.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What strategy should investors use in Scranton, PA?

For Scranton, PA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What is the median home value in Scranton, PA?

Median home price in Scranton, PA is near $202K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Scranton, PA?

Scranton, PA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $1,312/mo.

Is Scranton, PA landlord-friendly?

Scranton, PA operates under PA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect predictable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is Scranton in PA worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Scranton, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $202K and rents of $1,312/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 18510 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 18510 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 18510 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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