What it's like to live in State College
State College is a small city in Pennsylvania with rent below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. State College deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 44" per year
How State College compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to State College
Based on State College's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,546
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,920 a year
- 62% of State College renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,560
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,780
- Homes cost 9.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,273/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,273 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $437,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $437,800 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 58% below US
153 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 768/100k · State College Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▼ 40% below US
16 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 15.5 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 4 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% take public transit; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 90% above US
68% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (45 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
State College's strongest points are rent below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,273/mo) equals 34% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (15% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
See all the data for State College →·All Pennsylvania cities →
Other places near State College
All Pennsylvania guides →Moving to Altoona →
34 mi away · pop. 43,196
Rent $819/mo · Income $51,250
Compare with State College →Moving to Williamsport →
53 mi away · pop. 27,612
Rent $855/mo · Income $48,851
Compare with State College →Moving to Carlisle →
53 mi away · pop. 21,852
Rent $1,094/mo · Income $61,720
Compare with State College →Moving to St. Marys →
58 mi away · pop. 12,529
Rent $762/mo · Income $67,167
Compare with State College →Not sure State College is the one?
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