Old Forge is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, home to about 8,573 people across 3.4 square miles. Its ZIP code is 18518.
Homes sold for a median of $148 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Old Forge; also Taylor Borough
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Old Forge. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Old Forge’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Old Forge well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)94 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)2 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Newark, NJ93 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA99 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Old Forge; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Old Forge had 8,497 residents in the 2020 census, down 3% since 2000.
It’s the 326th largest of 2,568 towns in Pennsylvania by population.
Lackawanna County grew from 193,831 residents in 1900 to 215,896 in 2020.
Lackawanna County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 85°F in summer, and winter lows average 20°F. About 39 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 45 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wilkes-Barre Intl Ap, PA weather station (3 miles away).
91,059 jobs at 5,198 businesses in Lackawanna County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
48 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Old Forge.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 4 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 3 |
| Dentists | 4 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 8 |
| Mental health providers | 10 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 15 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 3 |
| Pharmacies | 8 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (5 nearby)
Grocery stores
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Old Forge SD. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Forge El SchOld Forge | K–6 | 532 | Public | 0.2 mi |
| Old Forge JSHSOld Forge | 7–12 | 434 | Public | 0.2 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triboro Christian AcademyOld Forge | Pre-K–12 | 78 | Pentecostal | 0.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Old Forge? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Taylor Borough.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.