Real Estate Investing in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania (18634)

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

Luzerne County • Population: 13,638 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18634 (Nanticoke, 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: 13.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Nanticoke, PA (18634)?

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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 $174,615
Avg Monthly Rent $1,108
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,938
% Renters 35.9%

Market Analysis: 18634 Nanticoke

The 18634 ZIP in Nanticoke, PA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $175K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $1,108/mo on a $175K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 18634 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 18634 sits on the difficult end of the PA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Turning to rents, 13,638 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The right play in 18634 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Nanticoke:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,108/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
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 18634

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+15.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$49,897/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $130,303 $1,130 6.2% +15.6% $65,151
3BR $166,936 $1,470 6.3% +13.5% $55,645
4BR $199,587 $1,590 5.7% +12.2% $49,897

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$183K$159K$135K$111K$86K$62KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,258$1,224$1,191$1,157$1,124$1,090Jun 2025Oct 2025Feb 2026

📊 How Does 18634 Compare?

Metric 18634 Nanticoke Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $174,615 $174,615 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 9.2% 9.2% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,108 $1,108 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18634? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 36% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 18634 (Nanticoke, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+9.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $174,615
Monthly Rent $1,108
Price-to-Rent 13.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 14.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +11.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
13.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18634

Population: 13,638

💰 Median Household Income
$54,938
This area
$54,938
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.9%
This area
35.9%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.5%
This area
19.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.0 years
This area
41.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.1%
Other/Mixed 10.6%
Hispanic/Latino 7.3%
Black/African American 6.4%
👶 Under 18
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.9%
This area
15.9%
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 18634

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
17.8:1 Avg Class Size
$15,274 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Kennedy Early Childhood Center

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,274 Per Student
B+ Above Average

GNA El Ctr

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
493 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,274 Per Student
B Good

Greater Nanticoke Area SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
723 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,274 Per Student
B Good

Greater Nanticoke Area Ed Ctr

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
531 Students
👨‍🏫
22.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,274 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 2,672 Off-Campus Students
C
Luzerne County Community College
4,315 students · 1.6 mi
C
Wilkes University
5,198 students · 7.8 mi
D
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
353 students · 8.0 mi
C
King's College
1,932 students · 8.5 mi
C
Fortis Institute-Forty Fort
159 students · 9.6 mi
C
Misericordia University
2,107 students · 11.1 mi
D
Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Practical Nursing
102 students · 12.1 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
510 students · 14.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,672 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How qualified is the tenant pool in Nanticoke, PA?

The tenant pool in Nanticoke, PA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,108/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Nanticoke, PA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Nanticoke, PA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How expensive is real estate in Nanticoke, PA?

Median home price in Nanticoke, PA is near $175K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What do rentals go for in Nanticoke, PA?

Average rent in Nanticoke, PA is approximately $1,108/mo per month. Against $175K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is PA a landlord-friendly state?

The landlord environment in Nanticoke, PA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 18634 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 18634 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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