Old Forge is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,524 at the 2020 census. It is located 5 miles (8 km) southwest of downtown Scranton and 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Wilkes-Barre.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Old Forge ranks

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#194Cheapest rent in PA #199Shortest commute in PA #238Lowest property tax in PA All PA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code18518

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Old Forge

Housing in Old Forge

$232K▲ 8.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Old Forge home is worth about $232,000, up 8.7% in a year, 20% below the Pennsylvania typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market12

Sale-to-list103.1%

Sold in May13

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Old Forge

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Old Forge's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Old Forge 0.8

Pennsylvania 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Old Forge 4.9

Pennsylvania 13.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Old Forge

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Old Forge for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Scranton (20%), Moosic (6%) and Dunmore (4%). Half commute less than 7 miles.

Scranton

20%

Moosic

Dunmore

Plains

11%Work in townlive and work in Old Forge 7 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,973Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Old Forge →

Health in Old Forge

Compared with Pennsylvania

1better than PA

of 5 measures CDC estimates. The other 4 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 0 close Habits all close Care all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.4%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethPA 14.5% · better

Care nearby

Geisinger-Community Medical CenterScranton · 5.4 mi · ER

The Wright Center for Community Health School Based PracticeScranton · 3.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Old Forge · CMS · HRSAHealth in Old Forge →

Natural hazards in Old Forge

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

21Does Old Forge flood?paid flood claims since 1978 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Old Forge MapOld Forge vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Old Forge →

Climate in Old Forge

Full climate →

Old Forge has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

37° / 21°Winter

59° / 37°Spring

82° / 58°Summer

62° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Old Forge get?About 45 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 20, with the last in spring around Apr 23.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Old Forge →

Schools in Old Forge

All Old Forge schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Old Forge’s kids attend trail 74% of Pennsylvania’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Old Forge’s schools compare in PA →

DistrictOld Forge SDSchools3

Old Forge El Sch CElementary · Grades K–6 · 532 students Old Forge JSHS B-High · Grades 7–12 · 434 students Triboro Christian AcademyOther · Grades PK–12 · 83 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within PA. Ratings are from neighbors.