Pennsylvania · GEOID 42027

Centre County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 158,576 · 66,475 housing units

Median household income

$74,291

State $80,054

Median home value

$323,500

State $266,800

Median gross rent

$1,207

State $1,235

Homeownership rate

61.8%

State 69.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

57.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.2%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

11.2%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.35

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Centre County	Pennsylvania
Population	158,576	13,018,639
Population density (per sq. mi.)	143.21	—
Median household income	$74,291	$80,054
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$118,300	—
Households	59,013	—
Average household size	2.32 people	—
Owner-occupied	61.8%	69.3%
Renter-occupied	38.2%	30.7%
Race	83.9% White · 3.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Centre County compared with Pennsylvania.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

46.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	16.7%	$80,129	$2,003	$267,248
1 earner	27.1%	$82,525	$2,063	$276,167
2 earners	45.9%	$125,091	$3,127	$434,612
3+ earners	10.3%	$159,976	$3,999	$564,465

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

59,013

Average size: 2.32 people

Households with children

11,924

20.2% of households

Per-capita income

$39,316

Poverty rate: 20.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

61.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 64.1% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 19.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

49.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,980.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $323,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,207.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 7,462 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 2.9% · For rent 24.8% · Seasonal 31.7% · Other 20.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

47.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 52.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

3.6%

2,365 units of 66,475 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.3%

1,541 units of 66,475 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$59,433

100% MHI$74,291

120% MHI$89,149

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Centre County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$66,300	$75,750	$94,650
100% AMI	$82,810	$94,640	$118,300
120% AMI	$99,350	$113,550	$141,950

HUD FMR Area: State College, PA MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

57.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (34.2% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.6% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Centre County.

Covered employment

48,083

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

3,612

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$56,100

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	9,410	$68,120	$222,546	−$100,954	$1,703
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	7,120	$32,709	$90,734	−$232,766	$818
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	6,725	$23,986	$58,265	−$265,235	$600
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	4,328	$65,371	$212,314	−$111,186	$1,634
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	3,187	$71,920	$236,691	−$86,809	$1,798
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	3,005	$89,706	$302,897	−$20,603	$2,243
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,879	$71,360	$234,607	−$88,893	$1,784
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,946	$37,423	$108,282	−$215,218	$936
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,752	$42,825	$128,390	−$195,110	$1,071
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	1,454	$49,921	$154,803	−$168,697	$1,248
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	1,298	$104,416	$357,652	+$34,152	$2,610
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	977	$53,452	$167,947	−$155,553	$1,336
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	939	$95,121	$323,053	−$447	$2,378
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	781	$24,578	$60,468	−$263,032	$614
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	625	$72,375	$238,385	−$85,115	$1,809
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	567	$103,396	$353,855	+$30,355	$2,585
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	552	$30,223	$81,481	−$242,019	$756
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	267	$37,398	$108,189	−$215,311	$935
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	156	$84,499	$283,514	−$39,986	$2,112
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	115	$127,928	$445,172	+$121,672	$3,198

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	5,550	$22,449	$52,543	−$270,957	$561
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	3,866	$83,800	$280,913	−$42,587	$2,095
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	3,005	$89,706	$302,897	−$20,603	$2,243
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	2,481	$81,392	$271,949	−$51,551	$2,035
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	1,766	$78,707	$261,955	−$61,545	$1,968
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,735	$42,588	$127,507	−$195,993	$1,065
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,731	$26,840	$68,888	−$254,612	$671
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	1,541	$40,872	$121,120	−$202,380	$1,022
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,469	$27,540	$71,494	−$252,006	$689
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	1,385	$83,144	$278,471	−$45,029	$2,079
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	1,291	$30,158	$81,239	−$242,261	$754
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,274	$57,672	$183,655	−$139,845	$1,442
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,175	$31,245	$85,285	−$238,215	$781
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,153	$61,367	$197,409	−$126,091	$1,534
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	815	$28,170	$73,839	−$249,661	$704
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	811	$53,932	$169,734	−$153,766	$1,348
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	807	$25,419	$63,599	−$259,901	$635
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	804	$34,405	$97,048	−$226,452	$860
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	662	$57,931	$184,619	−$138,881	$1,448
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	638	$38,190	$111,137	−$212,363	$955
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	594	$111,831	$385,253	+$61,753	$2,796
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	586	$78,882	$262,606	−$60,894	$1,972
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	567	$103,396	$353,855	+$30,355	$2,585
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	561	$39,617	$116,448	−$207,052	$990
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	552	$30,223	$81,481	−$242,019	$756
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	541	$22,317	$52,052	−$271,448	$558
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	459	$53,110	$166,674	−$156,826	$1,328
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	423	$24,861	$61,522	−$261,978	$622
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	405	$71,480	$235,053	−$88,447	$1,787
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	398	$76,867	$255,106	−$68,394	$1,922
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	390	$60,942	$195,827	−$127,673	$1,524
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	323	$24,943	$61,827	−$261,673	$624
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	318	$40,092	$118,217	−$205,283	$1,002
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	314	$38,032	$110,549	−$212,951	$951
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	312	$68,262	$223,075	−$100,425	$1,707
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	299	$39,568	$116,266	−$207,234	$989
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	256	$29,972	$80,546	−$242,954	$749
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	234	$80,340	$268,033	−$55,467	$2,009
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	211	$63,267	$204,482	−$119,018	$1,582
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	190	$70,964	$233,133	−$90,367	$1,774
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	182	$68,634	$224,460	−$99,040	$1,716
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	164	$27,011	$69,525	−$253,975	$675
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	161	$50,610	$157,368	−$166,132	$1,265
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	149	$48,122	$148,107	−$175,393	$1,203
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	138	$46,045	$140,376	−$183,124	$1,151
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	116	$55,582	$175,876	−$147,624	$1,390
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	115	$127,928	$445,172	+$121,672	$3,198
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	107	$48,004	$147,668	−$175,832	$1,200
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	98	$53,696	$168,855	−$154,645	$1,342
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	95	$83,273	$278,951	−$44,549	$2,082
NAICS 213 Support activities for mining NAICS 213	88	$102,145	$349,199	+$25,699	$2,554
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	84	$29,741	$79,687	−$243,813	$744
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	78	$67,549	$220,421	−$103,079	$1,689
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	76	$35,426	$100,848	−$222,652	$886
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	75	$93,871	$318,400	−$5,100	$2,347
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	72	$101,531	$346,913	+$23,413	$2,538
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	67	$67,827	$221,456	−$102,044	$1,696
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	66	$16,520	$30,474	−$293,026	$413
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	56	$76,655	$254,316	−$69,184	$1,916
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	38	$99,829	$340,578	+$17,078	$2,496
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	34	$61,641	$198,429	−$125,071	$1,541
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	33	$34,039	$95,685	−$227,815	$851
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	11	$92,556	$313,505	−$9,995	$2,314

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,280	(850)	(40%)	$13.75	$28,610	$75,477	$715
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,320	600	35%	$13.86	$28,820	$76,258	$721
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,710	(430)	(20%)	$15.43	$32,100	$88,468	$803
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,360	70	5%	$17.37	$36,130	$103,469	$903
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,350	(150)	(10%)	$17.87	$37,170	$107,340	$929
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	540	(300)	(36%)	$19.55	$40,660	$120,331	$1,017
Tellers SOC 43-3071	190	(40)	(17%)	$20.07	$41,750	$124,388	$1,044
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,460	(850)	(37%)	$20.56	$42,760	$128,148	$1,069
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	870	(590)	(40%)	$23.23	$48,320	$148,844	$1,208
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	620	50	9%	$26.22	$54,530	$171,960	$1,363
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	650	(30)	(4%)	$27.25	$56,680	$179,963	$1,417
Electricians SOC 47-2111	180	(30)	(14%)	$27.69	$57,590	$183,350	$1,440
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	350	(150)	(30%)	$29.32	$60,990	$196,006	$1,525
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	130	(30)	(19%)	$29.95	$62,290	$200,845	$1,557
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	360	220	157%	$34.25	$71,240	$234,160	$1,781
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	540	60	13%	—	$76,160	$252,474	$1,904
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,310	—	—	$42.06	$87,480	$294,611	$2,187

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 42027 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.