Times-Tribune Printing Scott Township Lacka Co PA, 2015
Scott Township’s story
163 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2015 and a map from 1892 on.
- 1863Scott Township is settled
Scott TownshipLackawanna County, PA
A town settled in 1863, now home to 4,736 people.
Population
4,736
2025 Census estimate · +1.9% since 2020
Median home value
$247K
Census ACS
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
53.8
years
Jobs based here
1,371
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#70 of 1032 in PA
Is Scott Township a good place to live?
Good marks almost everywhere you look. Its strongest is safety (A+) — it reports less crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns. Add schools to its strengths (A−): its schools rank ahead of 78% of Pennsylvania towns. A typical home there costs about $247K, 3.8 years of the Scranton metro’s $65K median household income. The overall grade comes out at A+, 70th of 1032 in Pennsylvania. Nationally, it does better than 97% of U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is State Game Lands Number 307, 253 acres with 1.3 miles of trail. Scott Township’s midpoint age is 53.8 years, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 43.2 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years.
Figures: FBI crime data, 2025 · schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Scott Township stand out
Where Scott Township beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Scott Township0.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
91% less violent crime than PA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Natural hazardsA−
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Lakeland School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland El Sch - Scott Campus | K–6 | 432 |
| Lakeland JSHS | 7–12 | 623 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Scott Township for work
Where Scott Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,371jobs based in Scott Township
9%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Scott Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Scott Township is from typical.
SafetyLess crime per resident than almost any U.S. townA+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SchoolsBetter than most of the towns comparedA−Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentB+Open →HealthLehigh Valley Hospital - Dickson City 6.1 miles awayB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.1 of 20; 4.4% of households have no car; 5.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAbove the middle of the towns comparedB+Open →HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleCOpen →Civic life2.5 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 →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Scott Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Scott Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPa Amer Water Co Lake ScrantonNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Scott Township’s trash rules yet
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 codes18447, 18433, 18411, 1841418447 42% · 18433 34% · 18411 22% · 18414 2%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 Scott Township.
SafetyA+
Less crime per resident than almost any U.S. town
Its A+ tops all 3 graded towns on its borders; Archbald (A−) comes closest. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Scott Township’s level of violent crime stands at 0.2 per 1,000 residents. Among 529 Pennsylvania towns, just 10 have a lower rate of thefts and burglaries than Scott Township.
99%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Scott Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Scott Township0.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Scott Township0.2
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
99th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
99th
percentile among PA towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
1
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsA−
Scott Township’s grade for schools is an A−
The largest public high school is Lakeland JSHS, with 623 students. The Lakeland School District runs its public schools. Its two schools are below.
78%of PA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland El Sch - Scott CampusLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 432 | B− |
| Lakeland JSHSLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 623 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 8% of Scott Township
Trails total 20 miles in 2 parks and preserves. Scott Township’s trail density comes in at 0.7 miles per square mile.
#314for trails in PA
| Scott Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 8% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
8%
conserved · 1,407 of 17,543 acres
20 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. State Game Lands Number 307 | 1.3 mi | 253 |
| 2. Pinchot State Forest | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Scott Township has a low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Since 2004, Scott Township has seen 7 flood insurance claims paid out. Compared with nearly four fifths of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage here is lower. FEMA puts 75% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 8% to cold waves.
21risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
7
paid flood claims since 2004
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
With only 0.7 jobs per working resident, most people in Scott Township work out of town
In Scott Township, 5.9% of residents live below the poverty line. Only nearly a tenth of working residents stay in Scott Township for work; the rest commute out. Jobs in Scott Township grew by 197 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 1,371. For Scott Township, the typical household income is $93,000.
9%work in town
| Scott Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.4% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Scott Township9%
Scranton17%
Dunmore5%
South Abington Township4%
Archbald4%
10 mi
median commute distance
1,371
jobs based in Scott Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 64% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Scott Township is healthier than seven in ten U.S. towns
Nearly two fifths of Scott Township adults sleep under 7 hours. On the CDC’s 26 measures, Scott Township is ahead of Pennsylvania on 3 and behind on 1. Two figures for adults in the town: 32% have obesity, 16% report frequent mental distress.
71%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Scott Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 38% | 36% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
3 better22 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Scott Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.5% | 14.5% |
| More adults seeing a dentist | 68.5% | 64.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.8% |
Lehigh Valley Hospital - Dickson City
6.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
70th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in Scott Township
Expect July afternoons of 80° and January nights of 16°, with about 69 inches of snow a winter.
69″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–34°
Spring35–56°
Summer57–78°
Fall40–59°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Scott Township is older than the Pennsylvania average
The share of residents in Scott Township who are 65 or older: 27%. Four-year graduates: 30% of adults 25 and older here, 35% across Pennsylvania.
53.8median age · PA 40.9
| Scott Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.8 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 15% | 20% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 27% | 21% | 18% |
Scott TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
22%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school37%
Some college12%
Associate’s18%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.2 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Scott Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.2% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.4% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2.7% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.1% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.8% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 22.2% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.1% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.8% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 36.9% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.1% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 17.7% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.7% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.8% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,700, single groups can be off by several points
Nearby attractions
All 35 attractions →Steamtown National Historic Site and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Scott Township. Close and well known come first.
9 mi National Historic SiteSteamtown National Historic Site61K visitors a year
22 mi LakeLake Wallenpaupack
36 mi State parkRicketts Glen State Park14 mi Theme parkRocky Glen Park
37 mi Ski areaCamelback Mountain Resort37 runs · 804 ft vertical
35 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 · Camelback Mountain Resort: Calzarette at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Hickory Run State Park: Mtruch, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Scott Township
19pages on Scott Township
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 78% of PA districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA+0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than PA on 3 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB−Work & commuteB+$93K median household income · 1,371 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
8 within 15 miles of the center of Scott Township
Johnson CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Scranton6.3 mi$21,225 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · Dunmore7 mi$15,208 in-state tuitionMarywood UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Scranton7.4 mi$41,420 tuition
About 3 of every 100 Scott Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Scott Township
Township in Pennsylvania, US
Scott Township is a township in the north central area of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 4,641. It is one of the five municipalities comprising the Lakeland School District. Township government consists of three elected supervisors with headquarters at the Joe Terry Civic Center, PA Route 438.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 28 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,598 ft
Scott Township’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Scott Township.
At #70 in PA, it grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; Archbald (A−) comes closest.
Benton TownshipGreenfield TownshipArchbaldBlakelyNorth Abington TownshipDickson CityScott Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Township | #70 | A+ | B− | A+ | A− | B+ |
| Benton Township | — | — | D | — | B+ | B+ |
| Greenfield Township | — | — | C+ | — | A− | B− |
| Archbald | #341 | A− | C+ | A− | B+ | B+ |
| Blakely | #446 | B+ | B | B+ | B+ | B+ |
| North Abington Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dickson City | #955 | C− | B− | C− | C+ | C+ |
Benton Township and Greenfield Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Benton Township and Greenfield Township report no FBI crime data of their own. North Abington Township isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Scott Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Scott Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Scott Township, PA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Scott Township grades A+ overall, better than 97% of U.S. towns and #70 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B+ for health, A+ for safety and A− for schools.
Is Scott Township, 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 B−.