Centre County, PA

County

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2024 Population

158,576

US Senator

John Fetterman

Democratic Party

US Senator

Dave McCormick

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

34.2

1.18% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

16.3%

3.5% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$74,291

2.12% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$323,500

5% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

73,509

0.304% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Centre County, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

94.8% of the residents in Centre County, PA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Centre County, PA are Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (14,268 degrees awarded in 2023), Pennsylvania State University-World Campus (4,785 degrees), and Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (117 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Centre County, PA was $323,500, and the homeownership rate was 61.8%.

Most people in Centre County, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Centre County, PA was 2 cars per household.

Centre County, PA borders Blair County, PA, Clearfield County, PA, Clinton County, PA, Huntingdon County, PA, Mifflin County, PA, and Union County, PA.

About the photo: Wetland (north view), Black Moshannon State Park, Centre County.

Photo by Nicholas A. Tonelli

United States Pennsylvania State College, PA

Population & Diversity

Centre County, PA is home to a population of 159k people, from which 94.8% are citizens. As of 2024, 7.9% of Centre County, PA residents were born outside of the country (12.5k people).

In 2024, there were 14.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (131k people) in Centre County, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 9.04k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 5.05k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.8%

2024 Citizenship

94.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 94.8% of Centre County, PA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Centre County, PA was 94.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Centre County, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Centre County, PA

White (Non-Hispanic)
131k ± 696
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
9.04k ± 445
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
5.05k ± 370

3.67%

Hispanic Population

5.82k people

3.67% of the people in Centre County, PA are hispanic (5.82k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Centre County, PA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Pennsylvania.

Most Common Origin

India
99,504 ± 7,715 people
Dominican Republic
93,569 ± 7,483 people
China
70,789 ± 6,514 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Pennsylvania was India, the natal country of 99,504 Pennsylvania residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 93,569 and China with 70,789.

Foreign-Born Population

7.9%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

12.5k people

8.32%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

13.2k people

As of 2024, 7.9% of Centre County, PA residents (12.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Centre County, PA was 8.32%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Centre County, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,956 ± 341
Gulf War (2001-)
1,700 ± 280
Gulf War (1990s)
1,015 ± 203

Centre County, PA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.15 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Centre County, PA.

Economy

The economy of Centre County, PA employs 73.5k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Centre County, PA were Educational Services (22,219 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,742 people), and Retail Trade (7,363 people), and the highest paying industries were Information ($85,592), Wholesale Trade ($80,781), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($78,393).

Employment

Occupations

73.5k

2024 Value

± 2,061

−0.304%

1 Year decline

± 3.95%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Centre County, PA declined at a rate of −0.304%, from 73.7k employees to 73.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Centre County, PA, are Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (11,965 people), Management Occupations (7,967 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (6,625 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Centre County, PA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Pennsylvania (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

73.5k

2024 Value

± 2,061

−0.304%

1 Year decline

± 3.95%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Centre County, PA declined at a rate of −0.304%, from 73.7k employees to 73.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Centre County, PA, are Educational Services (22,219 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,742 people), and Retail Trade (7,363 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Centre County, PA, though some of these residents may live in Centre County, PA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$49,813

Median earning men ± $2,335

$37,178

Median earning women ± $1,130

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($81,250), Information ($76,350), and Public Administration ($73,361).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($91,053), Wholesale Trade ($80,781), and Construction ($57,500).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Y-Axis

2.78%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 6.03M people employed in Pennsylvania. This represents a 2.78% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 18.1%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Pennsylvania.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

280
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
232
Other Services (except Public Administration)
195
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$449k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$273k
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$273k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Donald J. Trump with 50.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (48.7%), followed by Jill Stein (0.491%).

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are the senators currently representing the state of Pennsylvania. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Centre County, PA. Showing the available data for Pennsylvania.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (50.4%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (48.7%)
Democratic Party
Jill Stein (0.491%)
Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Donald J. Trump with 50.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (48.7%), followed by Jill Stein (0.491%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Pennsylvania for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Pennsylvania

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

John Fetterman

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Dave McCormick

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2025

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick are the senators currently representing Pennsylvania.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Pennsylvania over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Centre County, PA awarded 19,285 degrees. The student population of Centre County, PA in 2023 is skewed towards men, with 33,427 male students and 30,904 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Centre County, PA are White (12,021 and 71.9%), Hispanic or Latino (1,440 and 8.62%), Asian (1,349 and 8.07%), and Black or African American (818 and 4.89%).

The largest universities in Centre County, PA by number of degrees awarded are Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (14,268 and 74%), Pennsylvania State University-World Campus (4,785 and 24.8%), and Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (117 and 0.607%).

The most popular majors in Centre County, PA are Computer & Information Systems Security (683 and 3.54%), Information Science (668 and 3.46%), and General Finance (652 and 3.38%).

The median tuition cost for a public four year colleges is $17,438 for in-state students and $27,415 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Centre County, PA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 54.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 20.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 64,331 (52% men and 48% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 64,331 students enrolled in Centre County, PA, 52% men and 48% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 38,795 records, of which 49% were women and 51% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Finance
652 degrees awarded
General Psychology
614 degrees awarded
Information Science
581 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Centre County, PA was General Finance with 652 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Centre County, PA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
14,268 degrees awarded
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
4,785 degrees awarded
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
117 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus with 14,268 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 10,042 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Centre County, PA, which is 1.09 times more than the 9,243 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 12,021 degrees mean that there were 8.35 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 1,440 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private for-profit, 2-year ($18,999) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($562) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,840) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Centre County, PA was $323,500 in 2024, which is 0.972 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $308,100 to $323,500, a 5% increase. The homeownership rate in Centre County, PA is 61.8%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Centre County, PA have an average commute time of 20.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Centre County, PA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 17.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Centre County, PA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.14%.

Housing

Property

$323,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$7,308

$36,467

Median Property Taxes

±$1,212

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Centre County, PA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Centre County, PA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

61.8%

Homeownership

2024

64.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 61.8% of the housing units in Centre County, PA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 61.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Centre County, PA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$74,291

Median Household Income

± $2,520

59k

Number of Households

± 1,802

In 2024, the median household income of the 59k households in Centre County, PA grew to $74,291 from the previous year's value of $72,748.

The following chart displays the households in Centre County, PA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Centre County, PA is from Pennsylvania.

0.463

2023 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

0.466

2022 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

In 2023, the income inequality in Pennsylvania was 0.463 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.564% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Pennsylvania was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Pennsylvania in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Pennsylvania across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (63%)
Worked At Home (15.3%)
Walked (9%)

In 2024, 63% of workers in Centre County, PA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (15.3%) and those who walked to work (9%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Centre County, PA have a shorter commute time (20.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.71% of the workforce in Centre County, PA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Centre County, PA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Centre County, PA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Centre County, PA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 17.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Centre County, PA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.14%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

16.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Centre County, PA (22.3k out of 137k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Centre County, PA is White, followed by Asian and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 10% of the children was living in poverty in Centre County, PA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 88.6 in Centre County, PA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 24.4 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

94.8% of the population of Centre County, PA has health coverage, with 55.1% on employee plans, 9.38% on Medicaid, 11.5% on Medicare, 17.7% on non-group plans, and 1.18% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Centre County, PA see 1,202 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,202 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1703 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 391 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 51.5% were men and 48.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,202 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Centre County, PA

Primary care physicians in Centre County, PA see an average of 1,202 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,202 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Centre County, PA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 19.8% under 18 years, 31.8% between 18 and 34 years, 32.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 51.5% were men and 48.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.24%

Uninsured

55.1%

Employer Coverage

9.38%

Medicaid

11.5%

Medicare

17.7%

Non-Group

1.18%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Centre County, PA declined by 5.23% from 5.53% to 5.24%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Centre County, PA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 33.8 in Centre County, PA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Centre County, PA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 34.7% in Centre County, PA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Centre County, PA.