Scranton, Luzerne County, PA -
Love to ski but don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a property nearby? Head to Scranton.
Realtor.com® just named Scranton the fourth most affordable ski town in the U.S. in 2021 thanks to its close proximity to a variety of skiing options, including a quick drive to the Poconos, where homes are typically much pricier.
Montage Mountain is just 8 miles from downtown and offers easy access for those from the Philadelphia and the New York City areas. It has 26 trails ranging from easy greens to expert black diamonds, so there's something for all experience levels.
Scranton's also a good home base for skiers looking to take on the Pocono Mountains. There are about 10 resorts within two hours offering all sorts of options for different terrains and types of skiing.
A three-bedroom, single-family home in Scranton proper located less than 15 minutes from the Montage Mountain Resort is currently on the market for $159,000.
“Our centralized location here in Lackawanna County offers multiple skiing opportunities. We've got Elk Mountain and Montage Mountain, which both average 5 inches of snow per season and offer 80 to 100% snowmaking,” said Christina Moyer, president of the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors®. “And just south of us, you can find Camelback Mountain, Mountain Creek Ski Area, and Jack Frost/Big Boulder ski areas.”
Living in Scranton offers a short commute to the mountains, where the home prices typically start to rise, with limited inventory available. Moyer said homes in the Elk Mountain area are very much in demand. “Currently, just four homes in the region are available to buyers, ranging from $135,000 - $629,000,” she said. “Many homeowners in this region are offering their homes as short-term vacation rentals and this investment trend is continuing to increase across our region. Homes surrounding Montage Mountain are located in the Glen Maura Community. Again, just four homes are currently available and prices range from $500,000 to $2.5 million.”
