Near the western foot of the Pocono Mountains in eastern Pennsylvania, Hazleton is home to around 30,000 people. Nearly 250 years after the city was settle — a period that included the rise of lumber and coal mining industries — a variety of revitalization programs, annual events and recreational amenities continue to help Hazleton evolve. "It's just an exciting time to be in Hazleton," says Ali McKittrick, Hazleton's Parks and Recreation Director. "There are many new and younger people getting involved with different roles in the city government and nonprofits that benefit the city. We all want to do something to help continue to make the city a special place." The city is now one of the largest in Luzerne County, and an Amazon fulfillment center has continued the area’s expansion.
The Amazon fulfillment center is helping continue the population expansion in Hazelton, offering many good paying jobs in the area.
Downtown Hazleton is where you will find most of the cities shopping, dining and arts scene.
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Single-family homes line many Hazelton streets
Hazleton is largely uniform in layout, with neatly gridded blocks of streets branching out from West Broad. Most are single-family properties, and homes can have expansive backyards. The median home price is around $207,000, while single-family homes typically range from $170,000 to $300,000. "The market has picked up over the last few years as more and more people have moved into Hazleton," says Amy J. Machita, a real estate agent with Century 21 Select Group who has been in the Hazleton area for almost 30 years. "I think there are several factors, but the growth of industry and jobs, as well as more affordability than New York and New Jersey, have been the leading causes."
Architectural aspects include Colonial Revival- and ranch-style homes, as well as some Cape Cods. Hazleton residents often experience extremely cold winters with temperatures well below freezing. The city can also experience close to a foot of snow, on average, from late December through January.
Hazleton has been growing fast over the last few years. The average median house price is $207,000.
Many of the homes in Hazleton are located a few blocks away from Broad Street.
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International menu options arranged throughout the city
Residents don’t have to go far to find local restaurants, with eateries scattered throughout the north side of Hazleton. Many sit close to the intersections of West Broad Street and North Church Street, which cross paths near the city center and have a variety of dining venues on the surrounding streets. A number of international restaurants offer menus featuring Dominican, Mexican and Italian cuisines. Locals can also find casual café atmospheres, bakeries and multiple pizzerias. A selection of small neighborhood grocery stores is complemented by a Giant close to West Broad Street.
Luisa Restaurant is serving up homemade Dominican food right in downtown Hazleton.
Vesuvio's Pizzeria has been a community staple in Hazleton since 1975.
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Community gatherings and facilities at City View Park
Over a dozen parks provide recreational space in Hazleton. City View Park is situated on the south side of the region and has a stage with bleachers and a dance area, along with a walking trail, multiple lighted pavilions and more. An inclusive playground was also recently added to the park. "It's the only inclusive playground within 20 or 30 minutes,” McKittrick says. “It allows children of all abilities to come out and play, and is probably one of our department's biggest accomplishments.”
Other area parks offer sports fields and courts among their amenities, and Can Do Community Park has areas for visitors to choose to sit or to be active. "We have so much growth going on,” McKittrick says. “While most of the focus will be making City View Park more of an event venue, we did hire an athletics director within the last year. So we have started rec leagues, and more will come online.”
City View Park is built at one of the area highest peak, it has panoramic views of Hazleton.
Can Do Park is an urban style square located at the corner of Broad St and Laurel St in downtown Hazleton.
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Revitalization projects and annual events
City View Park also plays host to several events throughout the year, including the Rockin’ the Mountain Concert Series that debuted in 2024. Taking place over three Fridays during the summer, musical acts pay tribute to several legendary artists and admission is free. The city’s downtown is the site of events like a Cinco de Mayo celebration and the Downtown Hazleton Farmers Market. The Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress aims to revitalize the city by way of the parks, commercial areas and more. “There is just so much opportunity in the city," says Yosara Gonzalez, the Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance of Progress. "We have seen so many businesses take advantage of our programs. I think entrepreneurs see we have needs for everything and are coming and opening up shop." The Façade Rehabilitation Grant was also put in place to help modernize storefronts.
Some of the larger office buildings in downtown Hazleton have been renovated into apartments, creating many affordable housing options.
The Hazleton Art League offers many classes to students of all ages, ranging from drawing, painting, ceramics and more.
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C-rated school district for Hazleton students
The Hazleton Area School District scores a C with Niche. Five of its schools span kindergarten through eighth grade, while two elementary schools run up through second grade and two middle schools cover third through eighth grades. Hazleton Area High School is the only high school in the district. Immanuel Christian School is private and gets a B-minus from Niche. Penn State University and Lackawanna College each have branch campuses in Hazleton.
Hazleton Area High School serves the entire area and has a comprehensive college prep program.
Lackawanna College if a fully credited college that has been educating locals in Hazleton since 1894.
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City bus lines and nearby interstates
Access to Interstate 81 is about 3 miles from central Hazleton. Drivers can head west along Route 924 to get on the highway, which links the city with Harrisburg and Scranton. Hazleton Public Transit buses run multiple routes through the city, including stops along West 15th Street in the northern part of the city. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport sits less than 40 miles north of Hazleton and counts Charlotte and Chicago among its destinations.
Local crime data
Recent crime data for Hazleton is not readily available from the FBI crime database.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
