Wilkes-Barre, PA, United States

Capital City

Wilkes-Barre's economy and infrastructure remain in recovery mode decades after the collapse of the coal industry, with a meager median income of $32,484 and over 30% of residents living below the poverty line. Severe flooding is a persistent headache, with the city requiring a $250 million levee system to cope with the Susquehanna River's frequent overflows. However, the city's population of 86,200 has stabilized after decades of decline, and ongoing revitalization efforts have brought new life to the once-bustling downtown. Wilkes-Barre may appeal to hardy individuals seeking an affordable cost of living in a historically industrial northeastern Pennsylvania town, but the city's lingering economic and environmental challenges are not for the faint of heart.