Plains, PA housing market
The median sale price was $235,000 in May 2026.
Home values, sales, trends and how Plains compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Plains at a glance
Only 2 sales in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Home prices up 78% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Plains rose 78% over the past 5 years, faster than across Pennsylvania (48%). Last year prices fell 4.3%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Plains home at roughly $323,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Pennsylvania since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −4.3% | +137% | +164% |
| 2024 | +23% | +147% | +152% |
| 2023 | +5.3% | +101% | +138% |
| 2022 | +24% | +91% | +122% |
| 2021 | +16% | +54% | +96% |
| 2020 | +3.7% | +33% | +79% |
| 2019 | +6.6% | +28% | +72% |
| 2018 | −2.1% | +20% | +66% |
| 2017 | +1.3% | +23% | +59% |
| 2016 | +6.3% | +21% | +53% |
| 2015 | −3.9% | +14% | +49% |
| 2014 | −2.2% | +19% | +46% |
| 2013 | −1.2% | +21% | +43% |
| 2012 | −4.4% | +23% | +42% |
| 2011 | −2.5% | +29% | +45% |
| 2010 | +0.8% | +32% | +48% |
| 2009 | −4.8% | +31% | +52% |
| 2008 | +1.5% | +37% | +57% |
| 2007 | +2.2% | +35% | +59% |
| 2006 | +8% | +32% | +55% |
| 2005 | +5.7% | +23% | +44% |
| 2004 | +2.9% | +16% | +29% |
| 2003 | +0.8% | +13% | +17% |
| 2002 | +0.9% | +12% | +12% |
| 2001 | +11% | +11% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 18702, 18705, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
15 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 15 new homes in Plains in 2025, all in buildings with two or more homes, worth about $2.1 million to build. That's 1.5 per 1,000 residents, slower than across Pennsylvania (2). Over the past 10 years, Plains has permitted 28 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Plains's population fell by 153 even though 15 new homes were permitted. Homes are holding fewer people: households are getting smaller, or more homes are used part of the year. Across Pennsylvania: 1.4 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 15 | 0 | 15 | $2.1 million |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | 2 | $350,000 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $70,000 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $90,000 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $354,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $651,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $360,000 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $527,000 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $147,000 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $344,000 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $189,000 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2007 | 24 | 4 | 20 | $2.3 million |
| 2006 | 20 | 5 | 15 | $2 million |
| 2005 | 9 | 7 | 2 | $1 million |
| 2004 | 11 | 7 | 4 | $1.2 million |
| 2003 | 23 | 10 | 13 | $2 million |
| 2002 | 22 | 11 | 11 | $2.2 million |
| 2001 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1 million |
| 2000 | 11 | 7 | 4 | $674,000 |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Plains and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains | — | −4.3%† | $1,230 | 15 | $73,790 |
| Wilkes-Barre | — | −2.8%† | $1,220 | 10 | $48,515 |
| Jenkins | — | +4.4%† | $1,300 | 9 | $54,878 |
| Forty Fort | $242K | +2.9% | $1,260 | 0 | $74,432 |
| Kingston | — | +7.9%† | $1,260 | 3 | $55,347 |
| Wyoming | $247K | +3.9% | $1,170 | 0 | $71,950 |
| Bear Creek | — | −5.2%† | $1,270 | 6 | $88,333 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
2.2 years of income
The typical Plains home costs about 2.2 years of the town's median household income, less than across Pennsylvania (3.7 years).
How Plains ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,230
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Plains is $1,230 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Plains pay a median of $1,118, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 20% of the town's median household income.
Studio $850 · 4 bedrooms $1,740
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (18702, 18705; Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.