Uprootmap
Harrisburg vs Scranton
Harrisburg and Scranton
Photo: Christopher Seliga / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Scranton are under the US rate in this release, 3.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Harrisburg to Scranton
In 2022-2023, 93 households filed a move from Harrisburg to Scranton (about 149 people, average adjusted gross income $46,269). 146 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,115 in Harrisburg and $1,070 in Scranton. Harrisburg has a state tax on wages. Scranton has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Scranton is 89% of the national level for the same work, against 99% in Harrisburg.
Scranton averages 188 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 28°F. Harrisburg is 197 sunny days, 88°F in July, 30°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Scranton and 23 in Harrisburg.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 93 households moved Harrisburg → Scranton (about 149 people, average AGI $46,269). 146 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Harrisburg and Scranton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 109 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,650–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into Scranton
Questions
Is Scranton cheaper than Harrisburg after tax and rent?
No. Scranton leaves about $14 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,115 in Harrisburg and $1,070 in Scranton.
Does Scranton have state income tax?
Scranton is in Pennsylvania, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Harrisburg to Scranton?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.