Avery-Stoss
WILKES-BARRE — The Institute is a community-based organization, offering data and analytics to support informed decision-making and improved quality of life throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The organization has released the 2026 Indicators Report, which contains approximately 150 trended metrics.
The Institute has expanded the report to include Indicators for Wyoming County, alongside data from Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties. These metrics are organized into 14 general focus areas, beginning with population demographics.
Jill Avery-Stoss, President & CEO of The Institute, said the population across the four counties has remained steady in recent years, despite some small yearly fluctuations. The region collectively gained nearly 5,200 residents between 2010 and 2024.
Notably, Avery-Stoss said immigration patterns shifted post-2020, with all four counties reporting net migration gains, especially in 2020–2021. These trends reflect broader national movements away from high-cost urban areas.
Avery-Stoss said the stability of the population has relied on in-migration rather than births. Birth rates across the region have been declining steadily for decades, with the lowest birth rates recorded in 2022. This trend mirrors national patterns and is influenced by younger generations opting for fewer or no children.
“In-migration refers to the relocation of people to the region, from other communities within the Commonwealth, from other states, and from other countries,” Avery-Stoss said. “It enhances diversity in the area. The Hispanic/Latino population has grown significantly, especially in Luzerne County. Increases were also recorded among Asian Americans, African Americans, and multiracial individuals.”
Diversity is an asset because it fosters economic growth and resiliency. It offers new perspectives and greater exposure to various cultures. It is essential to the workforce, small business development, and overall community vitality. Research suggests that, for these reasons, diverse populations are best equipped to withstand complex challenges.
Avery-Stoss said NEPA is also known to have an aging population. A sizable proportion of residents are over the age of 65. In 2024, more than 20% of residents in the studied counties were seniors, and less than 11% were under age 10, highlighting potential future labor shortages and high demand for health care and support services.
Additionally, Avery-Stoss said the number of older adults living alone has grown, with the region adding nearly 1,200 such individuals from 2023 to 2024. This trend aligns with the desire of older adults to “age in place,” ideally residing in the safety and comfort of their own homes rather than entering long-term care facilities.
Despite these population shifts, Avery-Stoss said average household sizes have remained stable. There was a substantial increase in single-parent households in 2021. Those numbers have fluctuated in more recent years, but the shares of single-parent households have increased overall. At the same time, there has been a slight decline in the number of grandparents raising grandchildren. Across the four-county region, only Lackawanna County saw a slight increase from 2023 to 2024.
“Northeastern Pennsylvania is experiencing gradual but important demographic changes,” said Avery-Stoss. “The population is aging, birth rates are declining, and diversity is increasing. Monitoring these demographic indicators should help shape policies and design public services that meet the unique needs of the community.”
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.