Duryea, 2010
Duryea’s story
143 years in pictures
Census counts: 7,487 in 1910, 5,036 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 6 maps from 1889 on.
- 1883Duryea is settled
Photo: Vasiliy Meshko · CC BY 3.0
Population
5,157
2025 Census estimate · +2.3% since 2020
Typical home
$215K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
39.4
years
Jobs based here
1,427
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#921 of 1032 in PA
Is Duryea a good place to live?
Duryea is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C− overall, 921st among Pennsylvania's 1032 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is safety: crime is low: it reports less per resident than 65% of U.S. towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in health: CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 76% of the country. A typical home there costs about $215K, 3.3 years of the Scranton metro’s $65K median household income. Duryea’s trail density is 3.3 miles per square mile, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 0.4 and U.S. towns at 0.4. On hazard risk, just 51 of Pennsylvania’s 1,751 towns do worse. Duryea's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 82% of U.S. towns.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Duryea for work
Where Duryea’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,427jobs based in Duryea
5%of working residents work in town
8 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Duryea grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Duryea is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listDOpen →HealthRegional Hospital of Scranton 6.8 miles awayC−Open →SafetyB+Open →SchoolsC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.2 of 20; 2.9% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Jobs & income$62K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1% conserved landBOpen →History2 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market7 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.4; 24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Duryea: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Duryea, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPaw Nesbitt water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpPay per bagCurbside pickup, paid by the bagTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLuzerne County Board of ElectionsLuzerne County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015
ZIP codes18642, 1864118642 90% · 18641 9%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Duryea.
Duryea carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Pennsylvania (mostly inland flooding), but it reports more crime than Old Forge and its other graded neighbors and has poverty well above the Pennsylvania rate.
OutdoorsB
Open space protected for good: 1.2% of Duryea
In 1 park or preserve, walkers have 19 miles of trail.
#21for trails in PA
1.2%
conserved · 45 of 3,636 acres
19 mi
of trails · 3.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Duryea Community Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
35%of PA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Rosary School PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 207 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
The FEMA risk score in Duryea is higher than in the typical Pennsylvania or U.S. town
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, with expected losses of about $455 per resident a year; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on.
Since 1978, 31 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Duryea. FEMA puts 85% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 6% to cold waves. Federal aid has come to Duryea households in 5 declared disasters; the latest was in 2011.
83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
31
paid flood claims since 1978
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC−
Duryea’s grade for health is a C−
Among adults in Duryea, 18% report frequent mental distress, against 16% in Pennsylvania’s towns and 17% across U.S. towns. Just over a fifth of Duryea adults smoke cigarettes. In Duryea, 16% of adults report frequent physical distress, and 40% have obesity.
24%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Duryea | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 36% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better18 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Duryea | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19.1% | 14.5% |
| More smokers | 20.8% | 15.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.7% | 7.7% |
Regional Hospital of Scranton
In Scranton · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
12th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most of Duryea’s workers head elsewhere: there are 0.6 jobs for each of them
Employers in Duryea added 273 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,427. Only 5% of working residents stay in Duryea for work; the rest commute out. Among residents here, 23% live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Scranton (13%), Wilkes-Barre (9%) and Pittston Township (5%).
5%work in town
| Duryea | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 23% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Duryea5%
Scranton13%
Wilkes-Barre9%
Pittston Township5%
Plains Township4%
8 mi
median commute distance
1,427
jobs based in Duryea
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 45% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
Duryea’s grade for cost of living is a C+
Homes sold in Duryea spent a median 7 days on the market. Typical home values rose 3.4% in the year to September 2026. Bidding over the asking price: two thirds of homes sold here.
$215KZillow home value
| Duryea | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 70% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,130 a month | $1,114 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Duryea$215K
Pennsylvania$287K
Market temperature
7
days on market
100.5%
sale-to-list price
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
The climate in Duryea brings snowy winters and pleasant summers
The range runs from 18° on a January night to 84° on a July afternoon, with about 45 inches of snow a winter.
45″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–38°
Spring37–60°
Summer59–82°
Fall41–62°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyB+
Duryea’s grade for safety is a B+
Duryea is safe by national standards, yet each of the 4 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Old Forge (A−) to Avoca (A). Reported crimes fell from 42 to 26 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The level of property crime in Duryea is 3.7 per 1,000 residents. Pennsylvania has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Duryea sits closer to the middle.
65%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Duryea | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.7 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.4 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Duryea1.4
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Duryea3.7
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
65th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
42nd
percentile among PA towns
7
violent crimes reported in 2025
19
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 55 attractions →Steamtown National Historic Site and 20 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Duryea. Close and well known come first.
7 mi National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site61K visitors a year
28 mi LakeLake Wallenpaupack
25 mi State parkRicketts Glen State Park4 mi Theme parkRocky Glen Park
6 mi Ski areaMontage Mountain Ski Area25 runs · 998 ft vertical
22 mi State parkHickory Run State ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Steamtown National Historic Site: National Park Service, Public domain · Lake Wallenpaupack: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ricketts Glen State Park: en:User:Msitler, Public domain · Montage Mountain Ski Area: Montage Mountain Resorts, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hickory Run State Park: Mtruch, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Duryea
20pages on Duryea
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 65% of PA districts · 1 schoolSafetyB+1.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than PA on 0 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$215K typical home · up 3.4% in a yearWork & commuteB−$62K median household income · 1,427 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
12 within 15 miles of the center of Duryea
Yeshivath Beth MosheUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Scranton6.9 mi$10,600 tuitionUniversity of ScrantonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Scranton7.3 mi$53,983 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · Dunmore10.1 mi$15,208 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Duryea residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
About Duryea
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Duryea is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, 9 miles (14 km) south of Scranton. The Susquehanna River marks Duryea's western boundary and the Lackawanna River flows through Duryea. It was incorporated as a borough in 1901, and had a notable switching rail yard, the Duryea yard (or Muller yard), connecting the central Wyoming Valley to destinations in lower New York and down-state Pennsylvania (in Harrisburg and Philadelphia). Coal mining and silk manufacturing were the chief industries in Duryea's early years. The population was 5,032 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1891
- Area
- 5.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 623 ft
- ZIP code
- 18642
- Area code
- 570
Duryea’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Duryea.
All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its C−; Pittston (C+) is closest.
AvocaExeter TownshipHughestownExeterPittstonOld ForgeRansom TownshipDuryea
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duryea | #921 | C− | C+ | B+ | C+ | C− |
| Avoca | #363 | A− | B | A | C+ | B |
| Exeter Township | — | — | C | — | B− | B− |
| Hughestown | — | — | B− | A− | C+ | C+ |
| Exeter | #762 | C+ | C+ | — | B− | B |
| Pittston | #772 | C+ | B | A | C+ | C− |
| Old Forge | #391 | A− | B | A− | B− | B+ |
| Ransom Township | — | — | C+ | — | A | A− |
Exeter Township, Hughestown and Ransom Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Exeter Township, Exeter and Ransom Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Duryea with a neighbor →
Questions about Duryea
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Duryea, PA a good place to live?
Duryea grades C− overall, better than 25% of U.S. towns and #921 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades C− for health, B+ for safety and C+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Duryea, PA safe?
Yes, by national standards. Pennsylvania has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Duryea sits nearer the middle.
Is Duryea, PA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is Duryea, PA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Albert K. Bender and Ronnie Koes.