2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Carbondale had a population of 8,828 at a density of 2,758.8 people per square mile. The median age was 41.3 years, 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.7 males age 18 and over. ^{[11] [12]}

99.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.7% lived in rural areas. ^[13]

There were 3,735 households in Carbondale, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.7% were married-couple households, 23.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, and the average family size was 2.65. ^[11]

There were 4,214 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%. The housing units averaged 1,317 per square mile. ^[11]

Income and poverty

The median income for a household in the city was $42,618, and the median income for a family was $55,043. About 24.8% of the population were below the poverty threshold, including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over. ^[6]

Notable firsts

• 1829: the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad from Carbondale to Honesdale began operations on October 9, 1829.
• 1833: the first Saint Patrick's Day parade in what is now Lackawanna County is held in Carbondale, as stated in the Scranton Times-Tribune: "It comes as no surprise that the Irish people of Carbondale would want to celebrate the patron saint of their homeland. ... The Feb. 28, 1833, issue of the Northern Pennsylvanian, the first newspaper published in Carbondale, contained a notice to “Hibernians” of a public meeting to be held ... ‘for the purpose of taking measures to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.’ ... The Carbondale parade is the first one mentioned in any history of the region that is now Lackawanna County." ^[16]
• 1850: the first eisteddfod (a Welsh musical and literary festival) in America was held in Carbondale on Christmas Day, 1850. Among the authors and musicians who attended were Daniel Davies, the Rev. John Moses, Thomas Eynon, the Rev. Thomas J. Phillips, and Edward Jones. These were the pioneer attendees of America.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 1851: Carbondale was incorporated as a city in Luzerne County on March 15, 1851, ^[17] making it the oldest city (the "Pioneer" city) in what later became Lackawanna County, and the fourth oldest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• 1853: the first lodge in America of the ancient Welsh Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites was opened in Carbondale in the fall of 1853; the first public Ivorite celebration in America took place in Carbondale in August 1855, when a procession and other public exercises took place, under the direction of Thomas Voyle, Esquire, chief marshal, and Edward Roberts, Esquire.^{[ citation needed ]}

Highway

U.S. Business Route 6 runs down Main Street, Carbondale, as the main highway through the city. Recently completed after years of highly visible construction, the four-lane Robert P. Casey Memorial Highway U.S. Route 6 runs from Interstate 81 near Scranton north past Carbondale with interchanges outside, but close to, the city limits.

Rail

As the city responsible for the importation of America's first steam locomotive, the Stourbridge Lion in 1829, Carbondale was once a main terminus of the Delaware and Hudson Railway. It was also served by the Erie Railroad and the New York, Ontario and Western Railway.

Today Carbondale is served by the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority and its designated-operator Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad on a single remaining D&H mainline track running to Scranton, now called the Carbondale Mainline.

Steamtown National Historic Site on occasion provides excursion trains originating from the Scranton Yard to the Carbondale Station for special events. ^[18]

Bus

Carbondale is served by the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS).