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Living in
State College.
About
Life in State College
If you're moving here, understand upfront that Penn State drives nearly everything—the economy, the culture, the crowds, and the seasonal rhythms. That's not necessarily bad; it means stable employment, cultural events year-round, and a young, educated community. Downtown has genuinely revitalized with new mixed-use buildings, restaurants, and art installations, and there's real civic engagement around social issues.
State College at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
38.1%
Foreign-Born
12.5%
Broadband Internet
83.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in State College: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In State College, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (19.5%), and 3.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
5.7%
of residents
65 and Older
6.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
13.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.9%
of households
Married Couples
24.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for PA
Rent, home values, and income in State College
In State College, home values are 72% above the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
41.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,618
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
26.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $415,228 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in State College
Unemployment in State College is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What State College Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.5 min avg
How State College residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In State College, most residents drive alone to work (38%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
State College Regional Airport (SCE)
Regional airport · few flights151k passengers boarded in 2025
- 128 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in State College runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
152.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
767.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
State College Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
68.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Centre County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Centre County, which includes State College, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $956,700 |
| 2024 | 15 | Winter Weather | $91,200 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $101,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $626,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $33,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $28,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Centre County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Centre County, which includes State College, is typically good — 271 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
271
per year
Moderate Days
93
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Centre County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
State College has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.5"
Annual Snowfall
43.8"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
146
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 21°F | 2.92" |
| Feb | 37°F | 22°F | 2.46" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 3.38" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 3.51" |
| May | 69°F | 50°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 77°F | 59°F | 4.09" |
| Jul | 81°F | 63°F | 3.79" |
| Aug | 79°F | 62°F | 4.16" |
| Sep | 72°F | 54°F | 3.95" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.46" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.99" |
| Dec | 38°F | 26°F | 3.18" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in State College
State College has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Mount Nittany Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Meadows Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Centre Hall
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in State College
State College's student/teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 68.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
68.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in State College
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Public · 4-year · 42,284 students · in-state tuition $21,098 · 86% graduate · median earnings $71,762 (10 yrs after entry)
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Public · 4-year · 7,877 students · in-state tuition $15,510 · 37% graduate · median earnings $71,762 (10 yrs after entry)
South Hills School of Business & Technology
Private for-profit · 2-year · 260 students · in-state tuition $20,310 · 67% graduate · median earnings $41,100 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for State College
State College has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
National Historic Site
45 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
54 mi awayJohnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
57 mi awayFlight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
74 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
75 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
76 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
79 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in State College
Schlow Centre Region Library
211 South Allen Street, State College
Cities Near State College
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to State College?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
State College FAQ
Is State College, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
State College's median rent is $1,273/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $45,424/year. Median home value is $437,800.
Is State College, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
State College's violent crime rate was 153 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 768 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in State College, Pennsylvania?⌄
State College has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in State College, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in State College is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,273/month and median household income is $45,424/year. The median home value is $437,800. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in State College, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in State College is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from