Scranton is a modern, progressive area, offering residents an affordable cost of living, high quality of life, superior educational and healthcare systems, as well as strong ethic and family traditions. Numerous cultural amenities combined with short commute times and affordable, safe and clean neighborhoods make Scranton a location of choice to live and work.
Quality education, from preschool through graduate school, is one of the region’s top priorities. High school graduation rates are significantly higher than state and national averages and dropout rates are miniscule, less than 2 percent in most local districts.
Close to 80 percent of our public high school graduates further their education, many at one of the local colleges, universities and technical schools located throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Eleven public school districts serve Lackawanna County. Millions of dollars have been invested in new schools and in new technology. Class sizes are small – our average student/teacher ratio is just 16 to 1 – and average graduating class size is more than 200. Advanced placement, gifted programs and special education services are offered by most local school districts.The Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County offers outstanding programs for students in the trades, technical and allied health areas.
The Diocese of Scranton operates a multi-county parochial school system including Holy Cross High School and Scranton Preparatory School. Scranton Prep, a private high school operating in the Jesuit tradition has received national accolades for the academic achievements of its students. Close to 95 percent of the graduates from our private schools enroll in college.
Area institutions of higher learning provide a multitude of degree and non-degree programs for both traditional and adult students. The Greater Scranton area has many outstanding colleges, universities and business schools. Sixteen post-secondary institutions, enrolling more than 45,000 students are located within a 50-mile radius of downtown Scranton.
Our regional institutions of higher education offer a multitude of choices and degrees.
The cost of living in Greater Scranton compares favorably with other small to mid-size cities in the Northeast and significantly lower than major metropolitan areas.
Greater Scranton offers one of the most affordable housing markets on the East Coast. Executive housing here is priced 30 percent less than homes in Philadelphia or Hartford and 50 percent less than Boston or Long Island.
When searching for a place of residence, home owners and renters alike have a variety of options from which to choose. Whether your style is contemporary or you appreciate historic charm, real estate is readily available at affordable prices.
INCOMES COMPARED TO SCRANTON, PA
| City | Salary |
| Scranton, PA | $50,000 |
| Baltimore, MD | $59,975 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $68,649 |
| Stamford,CT | $80,731 |
| Somerset, NJ | $83,767 |
| Boston, MA | $112,515 |
| Arlington, VA | $119,145 |
| New York, NY | $129,678 |
Source: Sperling’s Best Places
Learn more about housing and cost of living in Lackawanna County
Residents and visitors of Greater Scranton are enjoying a multitude of recreational opportunities year round. Montage Mountain offers a ski resort and summer fun park. Glenmaura National Golf Club features an 18 hole championship golf course. During the summer months baseball fans will enjoy Triple A games at the 10,800 seat PNC Field, home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Pavilion at Montage Mountain is host to various concert venues. The Steamtown National Historic Site and Electric City Trolley Museum have the nation’s largest collection of steam locomotives and memorabilia, and the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour takes its visitors 300 feet below the earth’s surface into an authentic coal mine. Whether you enjoy outdoor sports, shopping or cultural events, Scranton offers a multitude of opportunities to enjoy all the area has to offer year round.
