1st Advantage MortgageThe median Centre County household earns $74,291, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania before sharing details.
On this page
- Centre County at a glance
- Income in Centre County compared with Pennsylvania
- Employment and commuting in Centre County
- What it costs to live in Centre County
- Towns and communities in Centre County
- How Centre County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Centre County
- What the numbers mean for Centre County borrowers
- Centre County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Centre County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Centre County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Centre County at a glance
With an estimated 158,576 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Centre County ranks 22nd of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Packed into 1,107 square miles, that is close to 143 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the State College, PA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 53 places in the county (10 incorporated, 43 census-designated); the largest is State College, with about 41,050 residents, or 26% of the county.
Income in Centre County compared with Pennsylvania
At $74,291, the typical Centre County household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 23rd among Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Centre County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.7% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | -0.8 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). A household earning below the $74,291 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Centre County
By the Census industry count, 41% of employed Centre County residents work in education and health care and 12% in arts, lodging and food service. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 41% locally and 27% for Pennsylvania. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 63% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Centre County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 40.8% | +14.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.0% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -4.6 pts |
| Construction | 4.8% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Centre County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,207 in Centre County versus $1,209 statewide. By the Census definition, 57% of Centre County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $323,500, a typical Centre County house costs 4.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 62%. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Measure | Centre County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,207/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $323,500 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Towns and communities in Centre County
53 Census places fall mainly inside Centre County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 95,978 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $180,173 at the median in Pine Grove Mills, $45,424 in State College. This guide covers each of the 53 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College | borough | 41,050 | $45,424 | $1,273 | 8 mi |
| Park Forest Village | CDP | 8,624 | $79,120 | $1,331 | 8 mi |
| Bellefonte | borough | 6,009 | $62,540 | $975 | 4 mi |
| Boalsburg | CDP | 4,582 | $100,958 | $1,262 | 10 mi |
| Pleasant Gap | CDP | 3,208 | $69,536 | $1,210 | 6 mi |
| Toftrees | CDP | 2,873 | $73,721 | $1,566 | 6 mi |
| Philipsburg | borough | 2,748 | $47,794 | $645 | 19 mi |
| Stormstown | CDP | 2,532 | $146,875 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Lemont | CDP | 2,076 | $101,526 | $1,481 | 7 mi |
| Houserville | CDP | 2,000 | $119,303 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Zion | CDP | 1,981 | $94,829 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Centre Hall | borough | 1,547 | $80,652 | $1,154 | 10 mi |
| Pine Grove Mills | CDP | 1,502 | $180,173 | $1,410 | 12 mi |
| Milesburg | borough | 1,105 | $61,442 | $1,104 | 4 mi |
How Centre County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Mifflin County at 24 miles out to Blair County at 37. Juniata County leads the group on income ($66,318), Clinton County trails ($60,816), and Centre County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre County | - | $74,291 | $1,207/mo | 62% |
| Mifflin County, PA | 24 mi | $63,953 | $822/mo | 71% |
| Clinton County, PA | 25 mi | $60,816 | $820/mo | 72% |
| Clearfield County, PA | 34 mi | $62,152 | $791/mo | 79% |
| Huntingdon County, PA | 34 mi | $65,557 | $810/mo | 79% |
| Juniata County, PA | 35 mi | $66,318 | $756/mo | 74% |
| Blair County, PA | 37 mi | $62,382 | $885/mo | 72% |
Room for a loan payment in Centre County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Centre County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Centre County: $6,191
- Housing at the median rent of $1,207 uses 19%
- $1,022: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,455 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Centre County borrowers
Based on the Centre County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 57% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Centre County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 46% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.2%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| Residents | Centre County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.2% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.1% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Centre County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Checklist for Centre County applicants
Quick steps for Centre County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Centre County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Centre County borrowers answers to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Pennsylvania state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Centre County household make?
About $74,291 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% below the Pennsylvania median.
How does Centre County rent compare with Pennsylvania?
$1,207 locally, close to the state figure.
Which towns does the Centre County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 53 Census places: State College, Park Forest Village, Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Pleasant Gap.
Is the fit check different in Centre County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Centre County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.