Moscow, Lackawanna County, Penn'a. 1891, 1891
Moscow’s story
196 years in pictures
Census counts: 320 in 1880, 2,039 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1891 and 5 maps from 1889 on.
- 1830Moscow is settled
Population
1,996
2025 Census estimate · −0.4% since 2020
Typical home
$307K
−1.2% in a year
Household income
$82K
median
Median age
48.3
years
Jobs based here
728
Balanced
Is Moscow a good place to live?
The best of Moscow’s subject grades are an A for schools and health and an A− for incomes; the weakest is a C for cost of living. 47% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Moscow, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (29%) and U.S. towns (29%). The biggest park or preserve is Pinchot State Forest, at 96 acres. Moscow has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Moscow stand out
Where Moscow beats most towns.
How Moscow grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Moscow is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →HealthGeisinger-Community Medical Center 7.3 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & income$82K median household incomeA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.3 of 20; 2.7% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailB+Open →HistoryB−Open →Civic life4.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 63 attractions →Lake Wallenpaupack and 26 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Moscow. Close and well known come first.
16 mi LakeLake Wallenpaupack
8 mi National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site61K visitors a year
22 mi Ski areaCamelback Mountain Resort37 runs · 804 ft vertical
38 mi State parkRicketts Glen State Park
23 mi State parkHickory Run State Park9 mi Theme parkRocky Glen ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lake Wallenpaupack: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Steamtown National Historic Site: National Park Service, Public domain · Camelback Mountain Resort: Calzarette at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Ricketts Glen State Park: en:User:Msitler, Public domain · Hickory Run State Park: Mtruch, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Moscow: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Moscow, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAqua Pa Water Co MoscowNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMoscow Borough Yard Waste AreaDrop-offTown 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 hereLackawanna County Board of ElectionsLackawanna County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code1844418444 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 Moscow.
SchoolsA
Moscow’s public schools outperform 86% of Pennsylvania districts
Its public schools are run by North Pocono SD. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
86%of PA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Pocono MSLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 685 | B− |
| Moscow El SchTop results in townGrades K–3 | Grades K–3 | 581 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Moscow ranks healthier than 85% of the country’s towns
Moscow beats the Pennsylvania average on 8 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 19% of Moscow adults binge drink, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 18% and U.S. towns at 16%. 30% of Moscow adults have obesity.
85%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Moscow | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 35% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 24% | 25% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
8 better17 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Moscow | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.7% | 14.5% |
| Fewer smokers | 12.4% | 15.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 8.8% |
Geisinger-Community Medical Center
7.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Moscow
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 85% of U.S. communities. Since 2004, 14 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Moscow.
15risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
14
paid flood claims since 2004
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
A typical July afternoon in Moscow is cooler than in the typical Pennsylvania or U.S. town
The July high in Moscow is 79°F. Moscow has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
47″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–34°
Spring34–55°
Summer56–77°
Fall39–59°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most of Moscow’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Moscow for work: only 4% work in town. Moscow’s average trip to work is 22 minutes. Since 2013, Moscow has added 68 jobs, to 728 in 2023.
4%work in town
| Moscow | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 15% | 12% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Moscow4%
Scranton18%
Dunmore6%
Covington Township4%
Wilkes-Barre3%
11 mi
median commute distance
728
jobs based in Moscow
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 51% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Moscow
Moscow's reported crime rate is well below Pennsylvania's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. No violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Moscow | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.5 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Moscow0
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Moscow4.5
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
9
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
6%conserved
| Moscow | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 6% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
6%
conserved · 109 of 1,814 acres
1.4 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pinchot State Forest | 0.5 mi | 96 |
| 2. Golden Park | 0.5 mi | 6 |
| 3. Lake Hide Away | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in Moscow are worth about $307K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Moscow home is worth about $307,000, down 1.2% in a year, 7% above the Pennsylvania typical home.
$307KZillow home value
| Moscow | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $950 a month | $1,115 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 79% | 78% | 73% |
Typical home value
Moscow$307K
Pennsylvania$287K
−1.2%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Moscow
19pages on Moscow
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 86% of PA districts · 3 schoolsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than PA on 8 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC$307K typical home · down 1.2% in a yearWork & commuteA−$82K median household income · 728 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
7 within 15 miles of the center of Moscow
Yeshivath Beth MosheUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Scranton7.6 mi$10,600 tuitionUniversity of ScrantonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Scranton8 mi$53,983 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · Dunmore8.3 mi$15,208 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Moscow residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
About Moscow
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Moscow is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,039 at the 2020 census. It is located 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Scranton and 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Honesdale.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1830
- Area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,722 ft
- ZIP code
- 18444
Moscow’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Moscow.
Madison TownshipRoaring Brook TownshipSpring Brook TownshipCovington TownshipMoscow
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | — | — | C | — | A | A |
| Madison Township | #568 | B | C | — | A | B |
| Roaring Brook Township | — | — | D | A+ | A | B |
| Spring Brook Township | #641 | B | C+ | — | A | B |
| Covington Township | — | — | C | — | A | B− |
Moscow, Roaring Brook Township and Covington Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Moscow, Madison Township, Spring Brook Township and Covington Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Moscow with a neighbor →
Questions about Moscow
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Moscow, PA expensive?
That is 4.7 years of the area's median household income ($65,158 across the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.