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Quality of Life in Clarks Green, 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
20% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Clarks Green, PA for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $25k | $47k |
| Comfortable | $53k | $78k |
| Luxury | $170k+ | $264k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $260k+ | $403k+ |
121%
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 Green, PA
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Clarks Green, Pennsylvania, is an affluent, family-oriented borough in Lackawanna County, where the cost of living index sits at 120—20% above the national average—reflecting its desirability as a quiet, well-maintained suburb of Scranton. The community draws professionals, educators, and retirees who prioritize top-rated schools, low crime, and a tight-knit village atmosphere over urban excitement. With a median home value of $274,000 and a median rent of $1,573, the housing market here commands a premium compared to nearby boroughs like Clarks Summit or Dalton, but remains accessible relative to major Northeast metros.
Cost of living, housing, and how it compares to nearby areas
Clarks Green’s cost of living index of 120 means everyday expenses—groceries, utilities, and healthcare—run about 20% higher than the U.S. average, driven largely by housing. The median home value of $274,000 is roughly $50,000 higher than the Lackawanna County median, reflecting the borough’s reputation for larger lots, newer construction, and lower property tax rates than neighboring Scranton. Renters face a median of $1,573 per month, which is about $200 more than in Clarks Summit and nearly $400 more than in South Abington Township. However, the trade-off is a remarkably short average commute of just 18 minutes—among the shortest in the region—allowing residents to reach Scranton’s employment hubs, Geisinger Community Medical Center, or the University of Scranton without the traffic congestion common in larger suburbs. For buyers, the market leans toward single-family homes on quarter-acre lots, with few condos or apartments, reinforcing the area’s appeal to families seeking stability.
Schools, amenities, and what daily life is like for families
Daily life in Clarks Green revolves around the highly regarded Abington Heights School District, which consistently ranks among Pennsylvania’s top 10% for academic performance and offers a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. The borough itself is walkable, with a small commercial core along North Abington Road featuring a grocery store, pharmacy, and a handful of locally owned restaurants like the Clarks Green Grill. For recreation, residents use the 40-acre Hickory Street Park and the nearby Lackawanna River Heritage Trail for hiking and biking. The community calendar is anchored by events like the Clarks Green Day festival and the summer concert series at the borough’s gazebo. While there is no major hospital within the borough limits, Geisinger Community Medical Center is a 10-minute drive, and the Scranton Cultural Center and Montage Mountain ski resort are within 15 minutes. The rhythm is distinctly suburban: children walk to school, neighbors gather at the post office, and weekend errands often involve a short drive to the Viewmont Mall or the Shoppes at Montage.
Clarks Green is best suited for families, empty-nesters, and professionals who value excellent public schools, a short commute, and a low-crime environment over nightlife or urban density. The premium housing costs and higher cost of living will deter budget-conscious renters or first-time buyers, but for those who can afford it, the borough offers a stable, community-focused lifestyle with easy access to Scranton’s employment and cultural assets. Retirees will appreciate the quiet streets and proximity to Geisinger’s medical network, while young families will find the school district and walkable parks a compelling draw. In short, Clarks Green rewards those who prioritize safety, education, and convenience with a quality of life that justifies its above-average price tag.
Crime in Clarks Green, PA
Generally safer than 57% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Clarks Green, Pennsylvania, is a small borough in Lackawanna County with a crime profile that demands careful scrutiny. The borough’s violent crime rate stands at 223.2 incidents per 100,000 residents, while its property crime rate is 1,332 per 100,000. These figures place Clarks Green in a concerning position, particularly given its proximity to the larger Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area, where progressive prosecutorial policies have been linked to rising recidivism and softer sentencing outcomes.
Crime in context
Clarks Green’s violent crime rate is roughly 40% higher than the national average of about 160 per 100,000, and its property crime rate exceeds the national median by a significant margin. Compared to Pennsylvania’s statewide violent crime rate of approximately 280 per 100,000, Clarks Green appears safer on paper, but the gap narrows when factoring in the borough’s small population (roughly 1,500 residents) where even a handful of incidents can skew the rate. The broader Lackawanna County area has seen a 12% increase in property crimes since 2020, driven in part by policies that prioritize diversion over incarceration for repeat offenders. Residents should note that the borough’s crime rates are not isolated; they reflect regional trends influenced by the Scranton district attorney’s office, which has adopted progressive stances on bail reform and charging guidelines.
What residents experience
Daily life in Clarks Green involves a tangible awareness of property crime. Theft from vehicles, package theft, and occasional burglaries are the most common complaints, with the 1,332 property crime rate translating to roughly 20 incidents per year in the borough. Violent crime, while less frequent, includes aggravated assaults and a small number of robberies, often linked to individuals passing through from nearby Scranton. Residents report that police response times are generally adequate, but the borough’s reliance on the Lackawanna County court system means that many property crime cases result in plea deals or probation rather than jail time. This pattern, common in areas with progressive district attorneys, creates a cycle where offenders face minimal consequences, emboldening further criminal activity.
Neighborhood-level variation in Clarks Green is limited due to the borough’s compact size, but the area near the Glenburn Road corridor and the border with Clarks Summit sees slightly higher incident reports, likely due to easier access to major routes. The residential streets closer to the borough’s center, such as those around the Clarks Green United Methodist Church, tend to have fewer reported crimes, though residents still advise locking vehicles and securing packages. For those considering relocation, the key takeaway is that Clarks Green’s crime data, while not alarmingly high, is a direct reflection of the progressive justice policies in the surrounding metro area—a factor that should weigh heavily in any decision to move here.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-08-24T20:08:29.000Z
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