Living in Kingston, PA — City Convenience, Borough Address

Kingston sits directly across the Market Street Bridge from downtown Wilkes-Barre — close enough that “commute” barely applies — yet it keeps its own identity as the most populous borough in Luzerne County, with about 13,000 residents. The Wyoming Avenue corridor runs through town with restaurants, bakeries and services of its own, and the Susquehanna levee trail forms the borough’s riverfront backyard.

Food & Drink

• Kevin’s Bar & Restaurant — Kingston’s fine-dining anchor since 2010: steaks, oysters, seafood and handmade pasta on Wyoming Avenue.
• AmberDonia Bakery — an Old World European bakery known for wood-fired pizza, European pastries and Belgian waffles.
• Kingston Cafe — the neighborhood breakfast-and-coffee stop.
• Pizza Bella — the long-running local pizza and subs spot.
• The Canning House — a brunch destination in a former canning facility, just over the Kingston line in Forty Fort.
• Tammy’s Kitchen — the homemade-breakfast spot in neighboring Luzerne, where first-time visitors famously get a complimentary homemade waffle.

And downtown Wilkes-Barre’s full dining row is a five-minute drive across the bridge.

Things to Do

The historic Hoyt Library anchors civic life with events and study spaces. Kirby Park — the valley’s 52-acre Olmsted Brothers-designed riverfront park — is effectively at Kingston’s doorstep, hosting the Cherry Blossom Festival and Fourth of July fireworks. Nesbitt Park on the west bank adds a boat launch, a riverside disc golf course and the annual Riverfest paddling event. The Kirby Center, Mohegan Arena and downtown’s movie theater are all minutes away.

Outdoors & Parks

The Luzerne County Levee Trail runs flat, paved miles along Kingston’s riverfront — walk or bike from Nesbitt Park toward Kirby Park and Forty Fort. Ten to fifteen minutes up the mountain, Frances Slocum State Park wraps 1,035 acres around a 165-acre lake with kayaking, fishing and trails.

Gyms & Fitness

Planet Fitness at the Gateway Shopping Center in adjacent Edwardsville, Danko’s All American Fitness (one membership covers all its Wyoming Valley locations), and Odyssey and Crunch just across the river.

Schools

Kingston is served by the Wyoming Valley West School District. The borough’s education headline, though, is Wyoming Seminary — the college-preparatory day and boarding school founded in 1844 and headquartered right in Kingston, rated A+ by Niche and ranked the #1 private high school in the Scranton area (Niche, 2026). Wilkes University and King’s College are across the bridge; Misericordia is 15 minutes up the mountain.

School Performance

State assessment results for the high school serving Kingston, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Future Ready PA Index, 2024–25 school year:

• Wyoming Valley West Senior High School — Keystone Literature 40.1% proficient or advanced (statewide 49.9%) · Keystone Algebra I 22.5% (statewide 41.7%) · four-year graduation rate 87.2% (statewide 88.0%)

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Future Ready PA Index, 2024–25. We publish these same three measures, from this same source, on every community page in this guide.

Everyday Essentials

Gerrity’s Supermarket has served Kingston since 1993, the Wyoming Avenue corridor covers daily services, and the Gateway Shopping Center is next door. Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center and Wilkes-Barre General are both within 15 minutes.

The Homes

Kingston’s tree-lined blocks hold some of the west side’s most sought-after housing — established single-family neighborhoods where well-priced homes tend to go under contract in about three weeks. It’s a small borough with steady demand; when the right house comes up, prepared buyers win.