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Single Family ResidenceResidential
$455,534$100 / ft²
TopHap EstimateOur estimate of what this home would sell for today, based on nearby sales, the home's size and features, and local price trends. It is a starting point, not an appraisal.· confidence 91How well the pricing models agreed with each other on this home. Higher means the estimate rests on stronger, more consistent data.· as of Jul 14, 2026
Last sold for $260,000 on Jan 28, 2016

281 S RIVER ST

WILKES BARRE, PA 18702
0
Baths
4,570 ft²
Living AreaTotal finished area of the structures, from county records. Some counties include shared space like hallways or a building gym, so it may not match a listing.
0.16 ac
Lot SizeThe size of the land the home sits on, from county records.
1924
Year BuiltThe year the home was originally built, according to county records.
3
StoriesHow many floors the home has above ground.

Valuation

$456K
$414K low$497K high
Last SaleThe most recent sale price and date from the recorded deed. Transfers between family members or companies may not reflect market value.$260,000 · Jan 28, 2016
Est. Owner EquityRoughly how much of the home's value the owner would keep after paying off known loans. It is our estimate minus the loans still owed.$111,834
Est. Lendable EquityThe part of the owner's equity a lender would typically let them borrow against — about 80% of their equity.$89,467
Loan-to-ValueHow much is still owed on the home compared to what it is worth. 80% means loans equal 80% of our estimate, so it shifts when the estimate does.79%
1st MortgageA loan still believed to be open on this home, in the order lenders get repaid. The first position is paid back before the second.$228,700
FIRST KEYSTONE COMMUNITY BANK · recorded Mar 25, 2026
2nd MortgageA loan still believed to be open on this home, in the order lenders get repaid. The first position is paid back before the second.$115,000
FIRST KEYSTONE COMMUNITY BANK

Tax & Assessment

Property TaxThe property tax billed for this tax year. It usually pays for schools, roads, and local services.$41,556 (2026)
Assessed ValueThe value the county assigns to this home to calculate property tax. It is often lower than what the home would sell for.$250,000 (2026)
Assessed LandThe share of the county's assessed value that comes from the land itself, not the buildings.$30,000
Assessed ImprovementsThe share of the county's assessed value that comes from the buildings and other structures on the land.$220,000
Previous AssessedThe county's assessed value from the year before, useful for seeing how the assessment changed.$250,000
Assessor Market ValueThe county assessor's own opinion of market value. It is separate from our estimate and updates on the county's schedule.$250,000

Climate Risk

Overall riskThe average of the five hazard scores below, on a 0 to 100 scale. Higher means greater projected risk over the coming decades.41
40
FloodProjected flooding risk from rivers, heavy rain, and storm surge, scored 0 to 100. Higher is riskier.
1
WildfireProjected wildfire risk, scored 0 to 100, based on how much land burns in a typical year. Higher is riskier.
65
HeatProjected heat risk, scored 0 to 100, based on how many extremely hot days a year are expected. Higher is riskier.
84
StormProjected risk from heavy rainstorms, scored 0 to 100, based on how often extreme rainfall is expected. Higher is riskier.
16
DroughtProjected water shortage risk, scored 0 to 100. Higher means more strain on the local water supply.
Projected Flood DepthHow deep a serious flood is expected to get here at some point in the next 30 years. Shown in inches.8 in
30-Year Flood ChanceThe chance of at least one serious flood here in the next 30 years, not in any single year.30%

Scores 0–100; higher = greater projected risk.

Property Facts

Property TypeThe broad category the county puts this property in, such as residential or commercial.Single Family Residence
CountyLUZERNE
Lot (acres)The size of the land the home sits on, from county records.0.16
PoolWhether the property has a pool, and what kind, such as in-ground.No

Transaction History(3)

Sales and refinances filed with the county for this home. Not every transfer is a normal sale, so check the type before comparing prices.

Assigned SchoolsThe public schools this address is zoned for. Boundaries change, so confirm with the district before you count on it.

M
Meyers Junior / Senior High SchoolD-
Middle · Grades 7–12 · 0.9 mi
E
Kistler Elementary SchoolC+
Elementary · Grades KG–6 · 1.0 mi

District: Wilkes-Barre Area School District

Neighborhood · ZIP 18702These are comparison scores, not percentages. 100 equals the national average, so 150 means about 50% above average.

CrimeLocal crime compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. It reflects things like population density, income, and how crime gets reported.125
Air pollutionOverall air pollution compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Lower is cleaner.116
EarthquakeEarthquake risk and likely building damage compared with the rest of the country, where 100 is average. Scores can run far above 100.53

Index scale: 100 = US average (tick). Lower is better.

Homes occupiedThe share of homes here that someone lives in. The rest sit empty, including vacation and for-sale homes.89%
Bachelor's or higherThe share of adults 25 and older whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree.15%
Poverty rateThe share of people whose household income falls below the federal poverty line, which varies by family size.22%
UnemploymentThe share of men 16 and older who are out of work and actively looking. Only men are counted in this figure.1.2%
PopulationHow many people live in this area.44,851
DensityPeople per square mile. Higher numbers mean a more crowded, urban area.532 / mi²
Median incomeThe middle household income here — half of households earn more, half earn less.$55,186
Average incomeThe average household income. It runs higher than the median when a few high earners pull it up.$70,523
Average tempThe average temperature here across a full year.46°F
Annual precipHow much rain and melted snow falls here in a typical year.48 in
SunshineThe share of daylight hours that get direct sun in a typical year, counting cloud cover.51%

Ownership

OccupancyWhether the owner appears to live here or somewhere else. It is inferred from the mailing address on record.Absentee owner
Company ownedWhether the owner is a company or trust rather than a person.Yes

Data by ATTOM. Valuations are automated estimates, not appraisals. Photos from Google Street View and may not depict the current property state.

How this home compares

281 S River St measured against every home in its neighborhood, its ZIP code and its county, using county assessor records refreshed nightly. A home can stand out in one of those areas and look ordinary in another, because each one holds a different mix of homes.

  • Among the most valuable homes in South Wilkes-Barre
  • Costs less per square foot than 72% of homes in Luzerne County
  • Among the largest homes in Wilkes Barre 18702
  • Has a bigger lot than 85% of homes in South Wilkes-Barre
  • Older than 68% of homes in Luzerne County

What homes are worth in Wilkes Barre 18702

Each bar is how many homes fall in that price range. The marker is this home.

This home
$62K$509K

This home is worth more than 97% of homes in Wilkes Barre 18702.

How it measures up in Wilkes Barre 18702

The dot is this home. The mark in the middle is the typical home in Wilkes Barre 18702.

Estimated value$455,534
CheaperTypical $147,365Pricier

Pricier than 97% of homes nearby

Price per ft²$100
CheaperTypical $96Pricier

Pricier than 54% of homes nearby

Living area4,570 ft²
SmallerTypical 1,558 ft²Bigger

Bigger than almost all homes nearby

Lot size0.16 ac
SmallerTypical 0.11 acBigger

Bigger than 70% of homes nearby

Year built1924
OlderTypical 1925Newer

Newer than 48% of homes nearby

How 281 S River St ranks against every home in each area.
MeasureThis homeSouth Wilkes-BarreWilkes Barre 18702Luzerne County
Estimated valuepricier than$455,534almost all homes97% of homes93% of homes
Price per ft²pricier than$10057% of homes54% of homes28% of homes
Living areabigger than4,570 ft²98% of homesalmost all homesalmost all homes
Lot sizebigger than0.16 ac85% of homes70% of homes44% of homes
Year builtnewer than192454% of homes48% of homes32% of homes

About 281 S River St

How much is 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA worth?

The TopHap Estimate for 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA is $455,534 as of Jul 14, 2026. The likely range is $413,846 to $497,222. The estimate is modelled from recorded sales, assessments and the property's own characteristics — it is not an appraisal.

When did 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA last sell?

281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA last sold on Jan 28, 2016 for $260,000, according to the county's recorded deed.

How big is 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA?

281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA has 4,570 square feet of living space and a 0.16-acre lot.

When was 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA built?

281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA was built in 1924, making it 102 years old. The building has 3 stories.

What schools serve 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA?

281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA is assigned to Meyers Junior / Senior High School (middle), rated D-; Kistler Elementary School (elementary), rated C+. All sit in Wilkes-Barre Area School District. Attendance boundaries change — confirm with the district before relying on an assignment.

How does 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA compare to other homes in Wilkes Barre 18702?

Among the 13,308 homes in Wilkes Barre 18702, it is worth more than 97% of them ($455,534 against a typical $147,365), its price per square foot is higher than 54% of them ($100 against a typical $96), it is bigger than almost all of them (4,570 ft² against a typical 1,558 ft²), its lot is bigger than 70% of them (0.16 ac against a typical 0.11 ac) and it is newer than 48% of them (1924 against a typical 1925). Measured against all of Luzerne County, it is worth more than 93% of homes there. These shares are recounted nightly from the full county assessor record for each area, not from active listings.

What are the property taxes on 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA?

The 2026 property tax bill for 281 S River St, Wilkes Barre, PA was $41,556. The county assessed it at $250,000.

Closest homes

More homes in Wilkes Barre 18702

Assigned schools

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