RANK #584 / 1001 NAT · #33 / 44 PA · POP 158,576
1YR FORECAST: +1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
The historic borough of Bellefonte, known as the "Victorian Jewel" of Pennsylvania, serves as Centre County's seat and offers a glimpse into the region's past with its preserved architecture and natural Big Spring. Centre County is located in central Pennsylvania, roughly bisected by the Allegheny Mountains, and is home to Penn State University's main campus in State College. The county's landscape features forested plateaus, rolling limestone valleys, and numerous state parks like Bald Eagle, Black Moshannon, and Poe Valley, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Commuting within the county is facilitated by the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA), which offers bus services connecting State College, Bellefonte, and surrounding areas, including routes to Penn State.
Life in Centre County balances metropolitan conveniences with rural charm, attracting a mix of young professionals and families. Public schools in the county, including the State College Area School District, are recognized for their quality. The economy is largely driven by education and healthcare, with Penn State University and Mount Nittany Medical Center being major employers. Recent economic development initiatives aim to diversify the economy by supporting business expansion and targeting growth in sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, life sciences, and sensor technology. There is also a focus on developing infrastructure, including expanding air service and addressing housing needs across various income levels.
Centre County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.3% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Black Moshannon Solar Project
Undisclosed Developer (approved by Rush Township Supervisors)
|
$265M | Planned |
|
MPG Solar Project
MPG Solar (Energix Renewables)
|
$162M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Centre County scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#584). Median household income is $74,291 and job growth is running at +1.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Centre County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $323,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,207/month on average.
Employers in Centre County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.3% YoY). Home values moved +2.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 7.72% of Centre County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.