State College, PA Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 158,041 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — State College, PA Metro Area

What is the median household income in State College, PA Metro Area?: The median household income in State College, PA Metro Area is $72,748 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in State College, PA Metro Area?: The poverty rate in State College, PA Metro Area is 5.7% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in State College, PA Metro Area?: $308,100 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in State College, PA Metro Area?: The median gross rent in State College, PA Metro Area is $1,181 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of State College, PA Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 46.5% of adults in State College, PA Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

158,041

Median Income

$72,748

Median Home Value

$308,100

Poverty Rate

5.7%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

4.0%

Median Age

33.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$12,345 (+20.4%) Home Value: +$73,200 (+31.2%) Poverty Rate: +0.3 pp (+5.6%) Bachelor's+: +1.0 pp (+2.2%) Unemployment: -0.1 pp (-2.4%)

Demographics

Total Population 158,041

Median Age 33.0

Female 47.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 3.6% White (non-Hisp.) 83.5% Black 3.3% Asian 6.1% Two or More 5.0% Other 0.6%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Chinese

2.9%

Indian

1.1%

Korean

0.8%

Filipino

0.4%

Vietnamese

0.1%

Japanese

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Puerto Rican

1.0%

Mexican

0.9%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $72,748 ±$1,937

Per Capita Income $97,865

Median Family Income $108,006

Poverty Rate 5.7%

Child Poverty Rate 7.6%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 7.6%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 24.1%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

6.9%

$10–15k

3.6%

$15–25k

7.1%

$25–35k

7.4%

$35–50k

11.2%

$50–75k

15.5%

$75–100k

11.7%

$100–150k

17.1%

$150–200k

9.1%

$200k+

10.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 66,023

Owner-Occupied 61.8%

Renter-Occupied 38.2%

Vacancy Rate 10.6%

Median Home Value $308,100

Median Gross Rent $1,181

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 17.6%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 49.2%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

4.8%

$50–100k

4.3%

$100–200k

5.3%

$200–300k

23.3%

$300–500k

33.4%

$500k–$1M

15.5%

$1M+

2.7%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

4.2%

$500–1k

29.2%

$1–1.5k

39.0%

$1.5–2k

15.1%

$2–2.5k

6.2%

$2.5–3.5k

2.8%

$3.5k+

3.4%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

10.3%

1 vehicle

35.2%

2 vehicles

35.3%

19.2%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

58.7%

Single-fam. att.

6.5%

2–4 units

2.8%

5–19 units

5.7%

20+ units

10.9%

Mobile home

4.8%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

14.6%

1940–1969

3.7%

1970–1999

14.5%

2000–2009

12.7%

2010+

9.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 94.6%

Bachelor's or Higher 46.5%

Graduate Degree 24.1%

Some College / Associate 12.2%

Less Than High School 2.1%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 56.0%

Unemployment Rate 4.0%

Work from Home 13.6%

Self-Employed 4.5%

Government Workers 23.0%

Private For-Profit 72.4%

Industry

Edu/Health

40.7%

Arts/Entmt.

10.8%

Retail

10.2%

Prof. Services

8.1%

Manufacturing

6.8%

Construction

4.5%

Finance

4.1%

Transportation

3.8%

Public Admin

3.4%

Wholesale

1.5%

Agriculture

1.2%

Information

1.0%

Occupation

Management

51.2%

Sales

16.9%

Food Prep

16.7%

Production

9.7%

Construction

5.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 20.3 min

Drove Alone 66.0%

Carpool 6.8%

Public Transit 3.6%

Work from Home 13.6%

Walked 7.6%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 59,006

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 45.8%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 16.2%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

3.6%

5–9

4.2%

10–14

4.1%

15–19

11.3%

20–24

15.0%

25–34

13.0%

35–44

11.1%

45–54

10.6%

55–64

5.5%

65–74

6.0%

75–84

9.1%

85+

4.4%

Under 18: 14.8% Working age (18–64): 85.2% 65 and over: 15.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 8.4%

Naturalized Citizen 33.5%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 3.2%

Foreign-Born Origin

Asia

61.6%

Europe

16.9%

Latin America

12.6%

Africa

6.3%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 5.2%

With a Disability 10.7%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 94.5%

Uninsured 5.5%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 85.5%

Has a Computer 93.5%

Same House 1 Year Ago 77.4%

Moved from Abroad 1.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023