Wilkes-Barre, PA
Insuring your car and home in Wilkes-Barre, PA
How Wilkes-Barre households can compare car and home coverage, with local Census data. A quote is not a binder.
Wilkes-Barre has about 44,661 residents in Luzerne County. 69% of its workers drive to work alone and 51% of households own their home, so most families here need both a car policy and a homeowners policy.
Wilkes-Barre driving profile
| Measure | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone to work | 69% | 68% |
| Carpool | 12% | 8% |
| Work from home | 8% | 16% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 9% | 16% |
| Commute under 15 minutes | 40% | 27% |
| Households with no vehicle | 18% | 10% |
| Households with 3 or more vehicles | 11% | 19% |
Census ACS five-year estimates, 2020–2024, accessed through Census Reporter.
Long commutes are shorter in Wilkes-Barre than statewide: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or more getting to work. Annual mileage is one of the factors insurers use for auto pricing, so give an honest estimate for each car.
Fewer Wilkes-Barre workers telecommute (8%) than the state average, which means more cars on the road at rush hour.
In Wilkes-Barre, 18% of households live without a car while 11% have three or more. Teen drivers and extra vehicles change pricing more than almost anything else.
Home values and housing age in Wilkes-Barre
The median owner-occupied home in Wilkes-Barre is valued at $117,200, and half of the city's homes were built before 1943. The Pennsylvania median value is $254,500. Your dwelling limit should match rebuild cost, which can differ from market value.
Benchmark: $519 was the average 2023 Pennsylvania HO-3 premium at the Under $150,000 coverage level, per the NAIC. Countrywide, the all-amounts HO-3 average was $1,737.
Averages are for information only and are not a quote or offer of coverage. Your actual premium depends on underwriting.
Legal minimums on the road in Wilkes-Barre
The state minimum is 15/30/5. Additional requirement: first-party medical benefits $5,000. See our state minimums guide for how these compare across our ten states.
Bundling auto and home in Wilkes-Barre
Most Wilkes-Barre homeowners also own at least one car, which makes a multi-policy discount worth checking. Ask whether one storm that damages both car and house would trigger a single deductible.
Weather and road risks around Wilkes-Barre
Around Wilkes-Barre, two exposures stand out: winter ice and potholes and basement water and frozen pipes. Flood is excluded from both standard auto liability and homeowners policies unless you buy comprehensive (for the car) and a separate flood policy (for the house).
County hazard detail: FEMA National Risk Index.
Neighboring cities and Wilkes-Barre
Hazleton shows 3% working from home and a median home value of $151,600. Philadelphia: 46% drive alone, 24% commute 45+ minutes, median home $243,100. Pittsburgh shows 22% working from home and a median home value of $205,800. Wilkes-Barre ranks 20th for long commutes among the 30 Pennsylvania cities we profile.
Wilkes-Barre quote checklist
- Recent claims or violations
- Your existing policies and renewal dates
- VINs from registrations or the dashboard
- When the roof was replaced
- Lender name and loan number
- Your Wilkes-Barre address, square footage, and year built
Questions from Wilkes-Barre drivers and homeowners
What auto insurance is required in Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania requires liability of 15/30/5; first-party medical benefits $5,000.
Do Wilkes-Barre drivers have long commutes?
About 9% of Wilkes-Barre workers commute 45 minutes or more and 40% commute under 15 minutes (ACS 2020–2024).
What does homeowners insurance cost in Wilkes-Barre?
Prices depend on the home and coverage. The NAIC's 2023 Pennsylvania HO-3 average was $1,217; see the Pennsylvania page.
Other city guides near Wilkes-Barre
Auto and home insurance in Pennsylvania
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research