Thank you to the following organizations for their continued support of our research and this Data Dashboard, which is part of Project STIR (Sparking Transformation using Information & Research).

Commuting to Work

Driving alone remains the most common way to commute in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Prior to 2020, there had not been a significant change in the share of commuters driving to work alone, despite a decline between 2010 and 2019 in Lackawanna County. The second largest share of commuters have typically commuted by carpool, while public transit, walking, and other means normally comprised about five percent of commuters in the region and about 10 percent of commuters statewide.

A considerably large share of people worked from home in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The share of those working at home statewide grew to 16.3 percent, and continued growing to nearly 19 percent in 2021, bringing down the share of those driving alone from 75 percent to 67 percent. In the region, there appears to be a similar shift underway, though multi-year estimates used in 2020 and for Wayne County still include pre-pandemic data, resulting in an underestimation of those working from home. In 2021, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties each saw about 12 percent of workers telecommuting, and the percent driving alone decreased from about 79 percent to 73 percent.

Traffic Counts

In Lackawanna County, there are over 143 linear miles of highway that are part of the National Highway System. In Luzerne County, there are about 178 miles in the National Highway System, which includes interstate highways and certain other critical highways designated by the federal government. In 2021, Daily Vehicle Miles of Travel (DVMT, the total number of miles driven by all vehicles per day) on the National Highway System in the three counties was over 7.5 million – about 4.8 percent of the statewide DVMT.

The DVMT per mile of highway, a measure of average traffic volume, is lower than the statewide average in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, but higher in Luzerne County. This trend was apparent both prior to and during the pandemic. As of 2021, vehicle miles traveled have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels regionally and statewide.

The three-county region has several permanent traffic count sites that measure traffic volume and speed data on a continuous basis. The local sites include Interstate 81 in Wilkes-Barre Township, Interstate 80 in Foster Township, and State Route 307 in Newton Township. For the first time since 2016, data was available for the Foster Township location. In 2021, none was reported for the Wilkes-Barre Township location. Traffic counts at the Route 307 location increased by eight percent in 2021, consistent with increases in regional highway VMT, though traffic counts at that location remain lower than they were in 2015. On Interstate 80 in Foster Township, however, there was a significant increase in traffic counts between 2015 and 2021 – over 13 percent. Traffic counts are conducted less frequently in other locations within the three counties, so that data is not reported here.

Motor Vehicle Registrations

As of 2021, Lackawanna County passenger vehicle registrations have increased considerably compared to 2000. Luzerne County passenger car registrations have increased from 2020; in 2021, passenger car registrations rose to 195,732. In both counties, these totals were the highest among all years analyzed. In Wayne County, the total number of passenger car registrations decreased nine percent since 2000. Overall, the three-county region has seen a two-percent increase in passenger car registrations from 2000 to 2021, and growth of nearly two percent from 2020 to 2021. Statewide, there has been more consistent growth in passenger car registrations since 2000.

The three-county region has seen a generally increasing trend in the number of registered trucks over 5,000 pounds. In 2021, however, the number of the region’s registered trucks over 5,000 pounds decreased more than five percent from its 2020 totals. In contrast, the number of registered trucks over 5,000 pounds at the state level increased in 2021. The number of registered trucks under 5,000 pounds continued to decrease in the three counties and across the state, and it appears as though these trucks are being replaced by larger trucks in higher weight classifications. Since 2000, the number of registered trucks under 5,000 pounds has decreased by 64 percent in the three-county region and statewide.

Energy Price Trends

In 2022, all sources of heating energy increased in price. Natural gas increased by 24 percent, oil by 59 percent, propane by more than ten percent, and electricity by 36 percent. Oil, natural gas, and electric heating costs in 2022 were the highest they have been among all years analyzed. Propane costs were the highest seen since 2018. Natural gas prices have been less prone to large fluctuation and remain lower than the other fuel sources analyzed, despite the recent increases.

Broadband Access

The share of households with any internet subscription has been growing since detailed data has been kept by the Census Bureau. As of 2021, about 87 percent of households in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties had internet access – slightly more than Wayne County (84 percent) but lower than the statewide rate of 89 percent. While internet access is less widespread among lower income households, over two-thirds of regional households with annual income under $20,000 have internet access. At the state level, about 71 percent of households with annual income under $20,000 have internet access.

As of 2021, over 84 percent of households in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have smartphones – a proportion that grew considerably from 66 percent in 2016. Wayne County has a slightly lower rate of smartphone availability, at 75 percent, but all three counties have seen consistent increases in this share where data is available. In Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, the percentages of households with smartphones have nearly equaled the shares of households with any internet subscriptions.