Plains, Luzerne County, Pa, 1892
Plains Township’s story
154 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1892 and 5 maps from 1893 on.
- 1872Plains Township is settled
Plains TownshipPA
A town of 10,010, settled in 1872. A regional job hub with 11,899 jobs.
Population
10,010
2025 Census estimate · +2% since 2020
Median home value
$164K
Census ACS
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
43.8
years
Jobs based here
11,899
A job hub
TownGrade
D
#994 of 1032 in PA
Is Plains Township a good place to live?
Plains Township earns a D, 994th of 1032 graded towns in Pennsylvania, mostly because of schools and health. Its schools rank behind 87% of the state's. Residents are less healthy than 82% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. In its favor, 21% of its land is conserved. 21% of the land in Plains Township is conserved, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (8.2%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). On civic life, just 20 of Pennsylvania’s 1,717 towns do worse. Pinchot State Forest, at 1,376 acres with 2.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Plains Township stand out
Where Plains Township beats most towns.
A job hub
Every workday, about 11,252 people come to Plains Township for work
Where Plains Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
11,899jobs based in Plains Township
15%of working residents work in town
6 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Plains Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Plains Township is from typical.
SchoolsDOpen →HealthWilkes-Barre General Hospital 3.4 miles awayC−Open →Jobs & income$74K median household incomeC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 5.8% of households have no car; 2.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $164K, 2.5 years of the Scranton metro’s $65K median household incomeB−Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5 miles of trailsA−Open →HistoryB−Open →Civic life1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 57 attractions →Steamtown National Historic Site and 20 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Plains Township. Close and well known come first.
12 mi National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site61K visitors a year
32 mi LakeLake Wallenpaupack
24 mi State parkRicketts Glen State Park
17 mi State parkHickory Run State Park8 mi Theme parkRocky Glen Park
28 mi Ski areaCamelback Mountain Resort37 runs · 804 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 · Camelback Mountain Resort: Calzarette at en.wikipedia, Public domain
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Plains Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Plains Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPaw Watres water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offBielecki Scrap & Recycling Center, 2 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 codes18705, 1870218705 71% · 18702 29%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 Plains Township.
Plains Township draws workers from Wilkes-Barre and beyond, has homes that are cheap against local pay and is safe by national standards but not by Pennsylvania’s.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in seven working residents works right in Plains Township
11,899 jobs are based in Plains Township, 2.7 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 20.3 minutes, against 26.3 across Pennsylvania.
Most working residents leave Plains Township for work: only 15% work in town. 17% of Plains Township residents live below the poverty line, against 7.6% in Pennsylvania’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. The average trip to work in Plains Township is 20 minutes.
15%work in town
| Plains Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Plains Township15%
Wilkes-Barre17%
Scranton4%
Hanover Township4%
Pittston Township3%
6 mi
median commute distance
11,899
jobs based in Plains Township
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 63% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsD
For schools, Plains Township earns a D
Its public schools are run by Wilkes-Barre Area SD. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Wilkes-Barre Area HS, with 2,569 students.
13%of PA districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon/Plains MSLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 758 | D |
| Wilkes-Barre Area HSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,569 | – |
| Wilkes-Barre Area SD STEM AcademyTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 93 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
HealthC−
For health, Plains Township earns a C−
19% of Plains Township adults smoke cigarettes. Plains Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 41% of Plains Township adults sleep under 7 hours.
18%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Plains Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 24% | 25% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better17 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Plains Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 11.4% | 5.8% |
| More adults who get no exercise | 30.3% | 23.8% |
| More adults in fair or poor health | 23.8% | 18.7% |
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital
In Wilkes-Barre · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
8th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
#505for trails in PA
21.1%
conserved · 1,798 of 8,530 acres
4.9 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pinchot State Forest | 2.3 mi | 1,376 |
| 2. State Game Lands Number 91 | 0.4 mi | 235 |
| 3. Plains Township Municipal Park | — | 101 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Plains Township has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Plains Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 18° and about 45 inches of snow falls in a winter.
45″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–37°
Spring36–59°
Summer58–81°
Fall41–62°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Older than Pennsylvania overall
People 65 and older are 26% of residents (20% statewide); children under 18 are 16% of residents (21% statewide). 32% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
43.8median age · PA 40.9
| Plains Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 26% | 21% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 16% | 20% | 22% |
| Median age | 43.8 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 29% | 29% |
Plains TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school34%
Some college16%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
46% women, 54% men
About 115 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.3 points). Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Plains Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.9% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.2% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.7% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.5% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.6% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.6% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.6% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.2% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.1% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.3% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.3% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Plains Township, with inland flooding at the top
198 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 27 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 198 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Plains Township.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
198
paid flood claims since 1978
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyB−
Plains Township reports more crime per resident than 52% of U.S. towns
At 19.2 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 75% of Pennsylvania’s graded towns.
Plains Township’s property crime rate is 16.8 per 1,000 residents.
48%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Plains Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.8 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.7 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Plains Township1.7
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Plains Township16.8
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
48th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
25th
percentile among PA towns
17
violent crimes reported in 2025
169
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B−
A home in Plains Township sells for about $235K at the median
At 2.5 years of the Scranton metro’s $65K median household income, the typical home costs less against local pay than in 81% of Pennsylvania towns; that ratio is one input to its B− for cost of living.
67% of households own their home in Plains Township.
$235Kmedian sale price
| Plains Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 67% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,118 a month | $1,114 a month | $1,185 a month |
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Plains Township
19pages on Plains Township
The big questions
SchoolsDBehind 87% of PA districts · 5 schoolsSafetyB−1.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than PA on 0 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB−Work & commuteC+$74K median household income · 11,899 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 56% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
10 within 15 miles of the center of Plains Township
King's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wilkes-Barre3.5 mi$44,100 tuitionLuzerne County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Nanticoke10.4 mi$6,600 in-state tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreUniversity or college · Public · Dallas10.9 mi$14,280 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Plains Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Plains Township
Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US
Plains is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The population of the CDP was 4,335 at the 2010 census, out of 9,961 in the entire township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Area code
- 570
Plains Township’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Plains Township.
Jenkins Township next door grades higher for schools (C+ to Plains Township’s D) and lower for cost of living (C− to B−).
Wilkes-BarreJenkins TownshipForty FortKingstonWyomingBear Creek TownshipPlains Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains Township | #994 | D | B− | B− | D | C− |
| Wilkes-Barre | #1019 | D | B− | C− | D | D |
| Jenkins Township | #1007 | D | C− | — | C+ | C+ |
| Forty Fort | #536 | B | B | A+ | C | B |
| Kingston | #962 | C− | C+ | B− | C | C+ |
| Wyoming | #449 | B+ | B− | — | B− | A− |
| Bear Creek Township | #1020 | D | C+ | — | D | C− |
Jenkins Township, Wyoming and Bear Creek Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Plains Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Plains Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Plains Township, PA a good place to live?
Plains Township grades D overall, better than 12% of U.S. towns and #994 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades C− for health, B− for safety and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Plains Township, PA safe?
Pennsylvania has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Plains Township sits nearer the middle.
Is Plains Township, PA expensive?
The typical home is worth about $164,000, 43% below the Pennsylvania typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.