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Quality of Life in Clarks Summit, PA
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
7% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Clarks Summit, PA for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $18k | $34k |
| Comfortable | $46k | $68k |
| Luxury | $160k+ | $248k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $188k+ | $291k+ |
135%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
9 within 10 miles
Gas
20 within 10 miles
Hospital
10 within 20 miles
Airport
EWR — Newark Liberty International
Post Office
USPS — Clarks Summit, PA
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, presents a quality of life defined by suburban affluence and small-town stability, attracting professionals, families, and retirees who prioritize safety, strong schools, and proximity to Scranton’s job market. With a cost of living index of 93—7 percent below the national average—residents enjoy a notably lower financial burden than in many Northeastern suburbs, while still accessing the cultural and economic amenities of the Lackawanna Valley. The borough’s tree-lined streets, historic homes, and low crime rates create an environment where daily life feels both secure and unhurried, appealing to those seeking a quieter alternative to the sprawl of larger metro areas.
Cost of living, housing, and affordability compared to Scranton and the Poconos
Clarks Summit’s cost of living sits well below the U.S. norm, making it one of the more affordable upscale suburbs in northeastern Pennsylvania. The median home value of $236,900 is significantly lower than the national median of roughly $350,000, and the median rent of $1,147 undercuts the U.S. average by about 15 percent. Compared to nearby Scranton—where the median home value hovers around $130,000—Clarks Summit commands a premium for its better schools and lower crime, but remains far cheaper than the rapidly appreciating Pocono region, where median prices often exceed $300,000. The average commute of 26.6 minutes is slightly longer than the national average of 25 minutes, but it reflects the reality of living in a bedroom community where many residents drive to jobs in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, or even the Lehigh Valley. Property taxes in Lackawanna County are moderate for Pennsylvania, and the borough’s lack of a local earned income tax further eases the annual burden for homeowners.
What daily life is like for families: schools, amenities, and local rhythm
Daily life in Clarks Summit revolves around the highly regarded Abington Heights School District, which consistently ranks among the top public school systems in Lackawanna County and sends a strong percentage of graduates to four-year universities. The borough’s compact downtown along State Street offers a walkable cluster of independent coffee shops, pizzerias, a public library, and a small grocery store, giving residents a genuine town center without the traffic of a commercial strip. For outdoor recreation, the nearby Lackawanna State Park provides hiking, fishing, and a lake for kayaking, while the 70-mile Lackawanna River Heritage Trail runs through the area for cycling and running. The community calendar is anchored by the annual Clarks Summit Festival of Ice in February and the summer Concert in the Park series, both of which draw families from across the region. Healthcare access is solid, with Geisinger Community Medical Center and Regional Hospital of Scranton both within a 15-minute drive. The overall rhythm is quiet and neighborly—sidewalk conversations, Little League games, and weekend trips to the farmers market define the pace far more than nightlife or cultural events.
Clarks Summit is best suited for buyers and renters who value top-tier public education, low crime, and a strong sense of community over urban excitement or ultra-low housing costs. Professionals commuting to Scranton or Wilkes-Barre will find the 26-minute drive manageable, while remote workers can take advantage of the borough’s reliable broadband and lower cost of living. Families with school-age children will benefit most directly from the Abington Heights district, and retirees will appreciate the walkable downtown and access to healthcare. Those seeking a vibrant nightlife, dense urban amenities, or a significantly shorter commute should look elsewhere—but for anyone prioritizing safety, schools, and affordability in a classic Pennsylvania small town, Clarks Summit delivers consistently.
Crime in Clarks Summit, PA
Generally safer than 57% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, presents a mixed safety profile for prospective residents. The borough's violent crime rate of 223.2 incidents per 100,000 people is notably lower than the national average, but its property crime rate of 1,332 per 100,000 sits significantly above both state and national benchmarks. This combination of below-average violent crime and above-average property crime means that while serious physical threats are relatively uncommon, residents face a heightened risk of theft, burglary, and vandalism compared to typical Pennsylvania communities.
Crime in context
When placed against broader statistical baselines, Clarks Summit's crime data reveals a distinct pattern. The violent crime rate of 223.2 per 100,000 is roughly 36% lower than the national average of approximately 350 per 100,000, and it aligns closely with the Pennsylvania state average. However, the property crime rate of 1,332 per 100,000 is roughly 20% higher than the national average and substantially exceeds the Pennsylvania state average of about 1,100 per 100,000. This disparity suggests that while the borough is relatively safe from violent confrontations, property-related offenses are a more pressing concern. The borough's location within Lackawanna County, part of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metro area, places it within a region where some jurisdictions have adopted progressive prosecutorial policies. Readers should be aware that such ideological approaches in the justice system, while sympathetic to offenders, can lead to more criminals on the street and negatively impact justice for victims and the public, potentially contributing to the elevated property crime figures.
What residents experience
For those living in Clarks Summit, the day-to-day reality is shaped more by property crime than by violent incidents. Residents commonly report concerns about package theft from porches, vehicle break-ins, and occasional burglaries of unoccupied homes. The borough's walkable downtown and residential neighborhoods, while generally peaceful during daylight hours, see a notable uptick in these property crimes during evening and overnight periods. Violent crimes such as assault or robbery are rare but do occur, often concentrated in the late-night hours near commercial areas. The local police department maintains a visible presence, but the sheer volume of property crime calls can strain response times for non-emergency incidents. For families and retirees, the primary safety consideration is securing personal property rather than worrying about personal physical safety.
Neighborhood-level variation within Clarks Summit is modest but worth noting. The area around the State Street commercial corridor and the borough's southern edge, which borders the larger Scranton metro area, tends to report higher property crime rates. In contrast, the residential streets north of Grove Street and the more rural pockets near the Abington Township line experience fewer incidents. Prospective renters and buyers should prioritize properties with off-street parking, well-lit exteriors, and proximity to neighbors, as these factors correlate with lower victimization risk. Overall, Clarks Summit offers a relatively safe environment for those who take standard precautions against property crime, but the elevated theft rates and the regional justice system's progressive leanings warrant careful consideration.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-08-24T20:05:33.000Z
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