Minooka
Suburban Neighborhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Lackawanna County 18505
Minooka’s modest homes and quiet, orderly streets
Residential streets fan away from Route 11, leading to clustered homes on orderly properties. “Minooka is very appealing to the eye,” Zakreski says. “Homes are very well kept, and streets are clean and neat.” Architecture styles reflect the area’s coal mining history, with workers' cottages and humble foursquare styles most common. A few have modest backyards and private pools. Colonial Revival influences mingle among smaller contemporary split-level houses. Prices may range from small ranch homes for $107,000 to $289,000 for larger bi-level and stately foursquare examples. “Immediately off Route 11, there isn’t a lot of traffic, so it’s pretty quiet,” Zakreski says. “Crime is fairly low, kids play in the street, and there is a general sense of security in this town.” Minooka earns a CAP Index Crime Score of 4 out of 10, comparable to the US national average.Recreation at Cornell Park and historic railroad sites
With plenty of playgrounds and fields, Cornell Park offers ample space for folks to bring their pets. Junior sluggers and their parents congregate here for little league baseball on the weekends, and the park’s public pool becomes a popular destination in the summer. At Billy Barrett Park, kids enjoy the playground and swing set while tennis players take to the adjacent courts for a game. The park also features a grand gazebo perfect for picnics. Hikers and bikers take the riverside Minooka and Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.In downtown Scranton, the area’s history is displayed at the Steamtown National Historic Site and The Electric City Trolley Museum. Located across from the mall, the rail museum features extensive exhibits about steam locomotives and their importance to the region’s historical coal mining industry.
Top-rated academics at Scranton High School
The Scranton School District serves Minooka, with schools including John F. Kennedy Elementary School, which earns a C overall Niche score. Sixth through eighth graders attend C-minus-rated South Scranton Intermediate before advancing to Scranton High School. Home of the Knights, the B-rated high school offers a wide variety of top-performing extracurricular and athletic programs. Post-secondary institutions, including The University of Scranton and Lackawanna College, are located nearby in Scranton.Beginning in 2016, inspectors found dangerous levels of asbestos across 11 buildings in the Scranton School District. As a result, the school district has created an environmental task force for students and teachers and performs regular asbestos testing and cleanup initiatives to maintain healthy levels within school buildings.
History burns bright at the Bonfire Fall Festival
The historic roots of the Scranton area are also showcased during community events like the Bonfire Fall Festival, held annually in October at the historic Scranton Iron Furnaces. Live music strikes up as a colossal bonfire flickers to life, shedding warmth and light on the food and drink vendors of the festival. The event typically attracts over a thousand festivalgoers and serves as a significant fundraiser for the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Scranton Iron Furnaces.From Route 11 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and beyond
Though US Route 11 is Minooka’s main thoroughfare and connects residents to downtown Scranton, the borough also boasts proximity to major highways such as Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Commuters can also take the bus to downtown from one of the many stops dotted along Route 11. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is only 5 miles south.Longstanding locales along US Route 11
The shops, pharmacies and local businesses along Route 11 anchor the small, otherwise residential neighborhood. Casual, down-to-earth eateries such as Diskin’s Saloon and Joyce’s Café offer a laidback atmosphere, and Minooka Pub buzzes with patrons for regular trivia nights and happy hours. Established in 1979, the Minooka Pastry Shop has been a longstanding community staple. The dessert store specializes in party-centric cakes and pastries and sees a diverse customer base pass through its doors. “We draw from a wide range,” says Zakreski, who has been co-owner of the store for over 30 years. “We get a lot of people in the area because they work close to Scranton and the interstate, but they live up to 25 miles away.”Zakreski says there has been an increase in commercial construction on Minooka’s two main routes, Route 11 and Davis Street. Most of the town’s chain restaurants and franchises, such as Dunkin’ and Wendy’s, are located along Davis Street. “Minooka still has an enclave feel, but it’s slowly diminishing as more commercial infrastructure is built along the major arteries,” he says. “In the future, Minooka will become more incorporated as a bustling center of Scranton.”
Minooka residents head to the South Side Shopping Center off South Washington Avenue for groceries and more dining options or the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton for additional shopping. The mall houses specialty shops and department stores like Boscov’s.
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
Photography Contributed By
Alec Oswald
Video By
Chris Freeman
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Felipe Rosero Salazar
Felipe Rosero Salazar
Christian Saunders Real Estate
(272) 770-3331
42 Total Sales
2 in Minooka
$103K - $163K Price Range
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Charisse Messina
Charisse Messina
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Preferred Properties
(272) 770-2912
110 Total Sales
1 in Minooka
$68,000 Price
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Christian Saunders
Christian Saunders
Responds QuicklyChristian Saunders Real Estate
(570) 852-2766
110 Total Sales
1 in Minooka
$215,000 Price
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Adam Davis
Adam Davis
Responds QuicklyCLASSIC PROPERTIES
(570) 774-4682
165 Total Sales
2 in Minooka
$155K - $235K Price Range
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Sara Weiss
Sara Weiss
Responds Quickly(272) 207-3057
68 Total Sales
2 in Minooka
$280K - $320K Price Range
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Nicole Clark
NC
Nicole Clark
Responds Quickly(570) 569-1446
54 Total Sales
1 in Minooka
$235,825 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 7th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Royal Courts at DeNaples Fields
Connors Park
Connell Park Dog Park
McDade Park
Connell Park
John Derenick Memorial Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Minooka | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Minooka Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Minooka, Scranton sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Minooka, Scranton over the last 12 months is $195,000, down 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$195,000
Median Sale Price
$195,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$189,950
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
28
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$132
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
302
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
2007
Months of Supply
1.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,817
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,712
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,454
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,896
Median Age
44
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.4%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$56,797
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$71,966
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.5%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
29.9%
Advanced Degrees
9.4%
% Population in Labor Force
70.2%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
37''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
35
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
50
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
South Side
Residential living just minutes from Scranton's industrial history
Taylor
Small suburban community built atop an old coal mine
Moosic
Mountainous, green borough southwest of Scranton
Downtown Scranton
The Electric City charges with history, cuisine and shopping
East Mountain
Suburban mountain community with lakes and parks
Hyde Park
Walkable West Scranton suburb with local cuisine and nearby green space
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