Battle of Wyoming Marker, 2011
Exeter’s story
212 years in pictures
Census counts: 790 in 1890, 5,514 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 1922 and 5 maps from 1893 on.
- 1814Exeter is settled
ExeterPA
Population
5,587
2025 Census estimate · +1.2% since 2020
Typical home
$237K
+5% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
51.5
years
Jobs based here
1,804
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#762 of 1032 in PA
Is Exeter a good place to live?
Exeter is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C+ overall, 762nd of 1032 graded towns in Pennsylvania, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is health: residents are healthier than 56% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its lowest everyday mark is in incomes: the median household income is $58K, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. A typical home there costs about $237K, 3.6 years of the Scranton metro’s $65K median household income. Exeter’s trail density is 6.1 miles per square mile, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (0.4) and U.S. towns (0.4). Only 167 of Pennsylvania’s 1,751 towns score lower on hazard risk. Exeter is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 86% of U.S. towns.
What makes Exeter stand out
Where Exeter beats most towns.
Get outside
30 miles of trails in Exeter
2.9% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
1
Pinchot State Forest3.6 mi of trails · 87 acres
2
Thomas Street Park1 acres
3
Senator Raphael J. Musto Nature Park1 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Exeter grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Exeter is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.2 of 20; 10.8% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Jobs & incomeCOpen →Cost of livingC+Open →HealthGeisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center 4.9 miles awayBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3% conserved landBOpen →History2 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The other Exeter
Exeter takes its name from Exeter in Devon, England, 3,390 miles across the Atlantic.
UKUK editionDevon, EnglandExeterA city of 126,181
Photo: David Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0Exeter, settled in 1814, takes its name from Exeter, a city in Devon, England.
Exeter, PA3,390 miles · Exeter, Devon
People126,1815,587 here
Typical home£295,000$237,000 here
Listed buildings76222 of them Grade I
TownGradeCagainst UK towns#24 of 47 in Devon · here C+ against U.S. towns
8 more U.S. towns are named after Exeter:Exeter Township, PABerks County · 26,069Exeter, NH16,213Exeter, CA10,122Exeter, RI6,540Exeter, WI2,209+3 more
Named after: each U.S. town’s Wikipedia article. Grades compare each town with towns in its own country, so they aren’t a head-to-head.
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Exeter: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Exeter, 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 & dumpNearest public drop-offWest Pittston Recycling Center, 1 miOpenStreetMap
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 code1864318643 100%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 Exeter.
Exeter has more trail for its size than nearly any town in Pennsylvania and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Pennsylvania (mostly inland flooding).
OutdoorsB
Exeter has set aside 2.9% of its land for conservation
At 6.1 miles of trail per square mile, it ranks #3 of 770 Pennsylvania towns.
Exeter sits below the Pennsylvania town median (8.2%) and near the median of U.S. towns (4.3%) on this measure. 30 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. Pinchot State Forest, at 87 acres with 3.6 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#3for trails in PA
2.9%
conserved · 89 of 3,133 acres
30 mi
of trails · 6.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pinchot State Forest | 3.6 mi | 87 |
| 2. Thomas Street Park | — | 1 |
| 3. Senator Raphael J. Musto Nature Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
Exeter’s schools rank ahead of 54% of Pennsylvania districts
Its public schools are run by Wyoming Area SD. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Wyoming Area Sec Ctr, with 929 students.
54%of PA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Area Kindergarten CtrLargest public elementary schoolGrades K | Grades K | 121 | – |
| Wyoming Area Sec CtrLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 929 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Exeter has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Exeter for work: only 7% work in town. Since 2013, Exeter has lost 97 jobs, to 1,804 in 2023. The top destinations are Wilkes-Barre (12%), Scranton (6%) and Plains Township (6%).
7%work in town
| Exeter | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Exeter7%
Wilkes-Barre12%
Scranton6%
Plains Township6%
Pittston Township4%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,804
jobs based in Exeter
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 86% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Exeter faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, with expected losses of about $450 per resident a year; that rating is what its C− for hazard risk is built on.
Exeter’s FEMA risk score is 74 of 100. Since 1978, 63 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Exeter.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
63
paid flood claims since 1978
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Exeter has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Exeter has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 18° and about 45 inches of snow falls in a winter.
45″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–38°
Spring37–60°
Summer59–82°
Fall42–63°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Older than Pennsylvania overall
People 65 and older are 27% of residents (20% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide). The median age in Exeter is 51.5 years. 26% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
51.5median age · PA 40.9
| Exeter | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 19% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 29% | 29% |
ExeterPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school37%
Some college19%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.4 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Exeter | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.1% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.3% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.9% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.4% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 20% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.7% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.8% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 36.5% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.7% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.6% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.3% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.1% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C+
Exeter earns a C+ for cost of living
Typical home values rose 5% in the year to September 2026.
$237KZillow home value
| Exeter | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $981 a month | $1,116 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 78% | 73% |
Typical home value
Exeter$237K
Pennsylvania$287K
Market temperature
7
days on market
113.5%
sale-to-list price
+5%
value change, 1 year
10
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthB
Exeter earns a B for health
Against the 8,206 U.S. towns with household incomes like Exeter’s, it is healthier than 85%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income.
Exeter beats the Pennsylvania average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 18% of adults binge drink in Exeter.
56%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Exeter | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 80% | 79% | 79% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 17% | 14% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
1 better23 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Exeter | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.1% | 14.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.4% | 8.8% |
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
4.9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
48th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 56 attractions →Steamtown National Historic Site and 19 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Exeter. Close and well known come first.
9 mi National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site61K visitors a year
31 mi LakeLake Wallenpaupack
23 mi State parkRicketts Glen State Park6 mi Theme parkRocky Glen Park
22 mi State parkHickory Run State Park
8 mi Ski areaMontage Mountain Ski Area25 runs · 998 ft verticalSources: 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 · Hickory Run State Park: Mtruch, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Montage Mountain Ski Area: Montage Mountain Resorts, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Exeter
19pages on Exeter
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
12 within 15 miles of the center of Exeter
King's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wilkes-Barre6.3 mi$44,100 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreUniversity or college · Public · Dallas10.1 mi$14,280 in-state tuitionLuzerne County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Nanticoke12.8 mi$6,600 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Exeter residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Exeter for work
Where Exeter’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,804jobs based in Exeter
7%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Exeter
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Exeter is a borough in the Greater Pittston-Wilkes-Barre area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Scranton and a few miles north of Wilkes-Barre. It is located on the western bank of the Susquehanna River and has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km2). As of the 2020 United States Census, Exeter had a population of 5,513.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1884
- Area
- 5.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 564 ft
- Area code
- 570
Exeter’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Exeter.
It grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Pittston (C+) comes closest.
West PittstonExeter TownshipPittstonDuryeaJenkins TownshipExeter
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter | #762 | C+ | C+ | — | B− | B |
| West Pittston | #780 | C+ | C+ | — | B− | C+ |
| Exeter Township | — | — | C | — | B− | B− |
| Pittston | #772 | C+ | B | A | C+ | C− |
| Duryea | #921 | C− | C+ | B+ | C+ | C− |
| Jenkins Township | #1007 | D | C− | — | C+ | C+ |
Exeter Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Exeter, West Pittston, Exeter Township and Jenkins Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Exeter with a neighbor →
Questions about Exeter
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Exeter, PA a good place to live?
Exeter grades C+ overall, better than 43% of U.S. towns and #762 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B for health and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Exeter, 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 Exeter, PA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Davis Dimock, Jr. and Ann A. Bernatitus.