Forty Fort vs Wilkes-Barre
Forty Fort, Pennsylvania versus Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Forty Fort edges out Wilkes-Barre on overall objective livability (57 vs 51 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Forty Fort | Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $74k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $151k | $98k |
| Monthly Rent | $956 | $897 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $8k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.71% | 2.12% |
| Income Tax | 3.10% | 4.90% |
| Sales Tax | 6.34% | 6.34% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 8.68% | 11.47% |
| Unemployment | 8.8% | 8.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 27°F | 27°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.4 in | 45.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.1 in | 45.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 204 days | 204 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 92 days | 91 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 41.0 | 33.5 |
| Air Quality | 43 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 65.7 | 96.8 |
| Violent Crime | 544/100k | 2104/100k |
| Property Crime | 2674/100k | 1611/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 4,242 | 44,123 |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 34.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.15 | 0.60 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | R+15 | R+15 |
| White (%) | 83.9% | 54.5% |
| Black (%) | 1.3% | 10.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 13.5% | 29.1% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 2.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 1.4% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 20 min |
| Walkability | 8.5/20 | 9.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 97 mi | 97 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.6% | 83.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1027.82 | 93.15 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Forty Fort or Wilkes-Barre more affordable?
- Wilkes-Barre has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Forty Fort's $43k and Wilkes-Barre's $43k. Median rent is $956 in Forty Fort versus $897 in Wilkes-Barre.
- Is Forty Fort or Wilkes-Barre safer?
- Forty Fort has the lower violent crime rate. Forty Fort reports 544/100k and Wilkes-Barre reports 2104/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Forty Fort or Wilkes-Barre?
- The median home value is $151k in Forty Fort and $98k in Wilkes-Barre, so homes are more affordable in Wilkes-Barre.