Judy Rice
Balistreri Real Estate Inc
(570) 569-0578
58 Total Sales
2 in Forty Fort
$175K - $275K Price Range
Forty Fort
Suburban Neighborhood in Pennsylvania
Luzerne County 18704
How many American settlers does it take to name a colonial fort along the Susquehanna River? A dozen? Two dozen? In the case of Forty Fort in Luzerne County near Wilkes-Barre, the answer is in the community’s name.
More than 250 years later, Forty Fort has become a suburban neighborhood borough with a regional municipal airport and a popular outdoor sports complex where youth athletes and adults play soccer, softball and other sports. Despite a terrible defeat against British forces during the Revolutionary War and the significant damage Hurricane Agnes wrought in 1972, the community has endured, swelling to a population of about 4,000 people.
Neighbors in Forty Fort live close to each other, as the L-shaped borough nestled along a riverbend features homes from the first half of the 20th century arranged on relatively small lots on sidewalk-lined streets. Mainly composed of Colonial-inspired homes with brick and vinyl exteriors, the average home value sits at $200,000, reflecting a 60% increase since 2019. Casey Johnston, a Realtor with RPA Real Estate, says recent demographic changes and industry trends have driven values upward. “Home prices here are a lot cheaper than in New York City and New Jersey, and our taxes are also cheaper. We’ve seen an enormous amount of people coming in from those areas,” she says. “We’ve also had some new warehouses come to the area, too, for companies such as Amazon, Adidas and True Value. So, there’s a lot of those jobs available.”
Located in the Wyoming Valley West School District, students in the community attend the centrally located Dana Street Elementary School. From there, kids typically go on to Wyoming Valley West Middle School and Wyoming Valley West High School. Niche gives the high school a B rating, with high marks for the quality of its teachers, diversity of the student body and college preparedness.
At the Forty Fort Borough Sports Complex, people play games or take their dogs for a walk as planes take off and land in the distance at the Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport. While there’s ample opportunity to participate in local leagues or pick-up games at the complex, visitors can also hop on to the Luzerne County Levee Trail that parallels the Susquehanna River. Walking south along the path, you’ll find a historical plaque commemorating the original Forty-Fort and the patriots who perished fighting to defend the area against the British in an infamous 1778 battle known as the Massacre of Wyoming.
Close to the old fort location, artists and merchants transformed an early 20th-century factory several years ago into an amply sized communal space adorned with colorful murals. At 900 Rutter, visitors can indulge in a leisurely weekend brunch or grab breakfast or lunch during the week. The venue also features space for several clothing retailers, professional offices, a martial arts gym and a yoga studio, allowing people to mix work and play seamlessly. Along Wyoming Avenue, the community’s main thoroughfare, residents patronize businesses and family restaurants like Suraci’s Italian Café, a casual eatery where you can get a hoagie, baked gnocchi or “drunken” lasagna with fried chicken cutlets.
Written By
Christopher Suarez
Photography Contributed By
TJ Engler
Video By
Mark Barakat
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Judy Rice
-
Xander Weidenbaum
Xander Weidenbaum
Redstone Run Realty, LLC
(272) 888-0327
489 Total Sales
1 in Forty Fort
$226,000 Price
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James Crossin
James Crossin
Crossin Real Estate
(570) 908-4249
81 Total Sales
5 in Forty Fort
$120K - $193K Price Range
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Nikki Callahan
Nikki Callahan
Responds QuicklyLewith & Freeman, Kingston
(570) 774-4665
104 Total Sales
2 in Forty Fort
$97K - $148K Price Range
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M. Sheileen Godwin
M. Sheileen Godwin
Responds QuicklyLewith & Freeman, Shavertown
(570) 754-9748
46 Total Sales
3 in Forty Fort
$165K - $300K Price Range
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Tammy Turner
TT
Tammy Turner
Responds QuicklyChristian Saunders Real Estate
(570) 535-4545
96 Total Sales
3 in Forty Fort
$264K - $330K Price Range
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Forty Fort Park
Church Street Park
Frank Slapar Park
Eugene A. Mullay Park
Forty Fort Borough Sports Complex
Parks and recreation
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Forty Fort | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Forty Fort, PA sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Forty Fort, PA over the last 12 months is $220,187, up 9% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$211,000
Median Single Family Price
$216,500
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$123
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Last 12 months Home Sales
39
Months of Supply
1.50
Median List Price
$225,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
3%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
11%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
545
Median Year Built
1950
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,981
On par with the national average
1,935
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
3,895
Median Age
43
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$73,186
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$81,148
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.2%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
25%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10%
% Population in Labor Force
70.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
32''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
55
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
30
/ 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
Kingston
A walkable suburban neighborhood with plenty of shops and charm
Wyoming
A neighborly community steeped in historic significance
Pringle-Courtdale
A scenic riverbank community in Luzerne County
Swoyersville
Parks and Recreation fosters community spirit
Luzerne
A historic borough next to Toby Creek
Plains
The Plains Township community is “Plains Proud”
Reviews
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