Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Luzerne County is worth $163,800, property taxes on it run about $2,506 a year (1.53%), the FHA loan limit is $541,287, and closing on it means about $3,276 in transfer tax plus $1,390 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $163,800 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $2,506 a year, 1.53% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $541,287 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $3,276 (incl. Wilkes-Barre municipal + school district realty transfer tax (Luzerne County seat)) | Pennsylvania transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $1,390 owner's + $0 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $178 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $4,844 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $92,400; low-income limit $73,600 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Luzerne County?
The median owner-occupied home in Luzerne County is valued at $163,800, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Luzerne County?
The median Luzerne County homeowner pays $2,506 a year in real estate taxes, about 1.53% of the median home value ($2,696 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Luzerne County?
$541,287 for a one-unit home in 2026 (the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Luzerne County?
On the $163,800 median home: transfer tax $3,276, title insurance $1,390 for both policies, recording fees about $178, about $4,844 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Luzerne County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Luzerne County (Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA) is $92,400. A family of four counts as low income below $73,600 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby Pennsylvania counties
- Lawrence County $136,700
- Lebanon County $227,300
- Lehigh County $276,100
- Lycoming County $195,600
- McKean County $98,700
- Mercer County $153,600
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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