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COUNTY

Centre County

Pennsylvania · 157,393 residents (2025 est.) · 1,107 sq mi
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Part of the State College metro area
The short version

Centre County is a county of 158,576 people in Pennsylvania. That puts it in the top 8% of US counties for household income. The median age is 34.2, younger than the US median of 38.9. 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 78% were living in the same home a year earlier. The average commute runs 20 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $74,291, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Centre County

What changed most since 1990

  • White share93.6% → 82.8% (−10.8 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts

Among the 67 counties in Pennsylvania

  • 23rd in household income$74,291
  • 3rd in share with a bachelor's degree46.2%
  • 5th in home value$323,500
  • 21st in diversity score38.4
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
158,576
+17%since 2000
from 135,758 in 2000
157,393 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
143 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 123 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.2
+19%since 2000
from 28.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,107 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
120K131K143K154K166K19902000201020202024Centre County
2024159K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.6%(5,673)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.2%(6,692)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144%(6,368)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1911.8%(18,705)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2414.7%(23,361)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.6%(19,945)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(18,018)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(16,452)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.4%(18,090)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.4%(14,843)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.3%(6,882)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(3,547)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,291
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,165 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,316
+118%since 2000
from $18,020 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.6%
+21.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.477
+2%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$323,500
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $109,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,207
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 60.2% in 2000
38.2% rent
Vacancy rate
11.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.32 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+20%since 2009
from 3.6 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
63
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(123,055)
Black2.6%(3,469)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(2,243)
Asian3.9%(5,354)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic82.8%(131,223)
Black3.2%(5,045)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(5,824)
Asian5.7%(9,039)
Other4.7%(7,445)
Diversity Score
38
+50%since 2009
from 26 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
−14%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.1%(1,749)
Puerto Rican0.9%(1,472)
Cuban0.2%(336)
Colombian0.2%(292)
Dominican0.1%(195)
Spaniard0.1%(186)
Peruvian0.1%(155)
Costa Rican0.1%(149)
Panamanian0.1%(143)
Guatemalan0.1%(132)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Salvadoran0.1%(118)
Argentine0.1%(109)
Venezuelan0.1%(81)
Chilean0%(74)
Honduran0%(46)
Bolivian0%(31)
Asian origin
Chinese2.5%(4,017)
Asian Indian1.2%(1,897)
Korean0.7%(1,094)
Filipino0.3%(433)
Pakistani0.2%(292)
Vietnamese0.2%(278)
Malaysian0.1%(231)
Uzbek0.1%(177)
Japanese0.1%(134)
Bangladeshi0.1%(118)
Taiwanese0.1%(84)
Cambodian0%(42)
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data
Burmese0%(29)
Thai0%(24)
Mongolian0%(19)
Hmong0%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(10)
Ancestry
German25%(39,646)
Irish14.1%(22,346)
English11.3%(17,964)
Italian9.1%(14,490)
American5.6%(8,902)
Polish4.9%(7,826)
Scottish2.3%(3,623)
French1.6%(2,589)
Welsh1.2%(1,859)
Swedish1.2%(1,841)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(1,677)
Slovak1%(1,657)
+ 46 more ancestry groups with data
Russian1%(1,641)
Dutch0.8%(1,343)
Swiss0.7%(1,153)
Arab0.7%(1,117)
Ukrainian0.6%(974)
Norwegian0.5%(794)
Greek0.5%(780)
British0.5%(716)
Hungarian0.4%(708)
West Indian0.4%(677)
Danish0.4%(608)
Czech0.3%(529)
Lithuanian0.3%(481)
Jamaican0.3%(414)
Croatian0.3%(397)
Nigerian0.2%(394)
Turkish0.2%(386)
Slovene0.2%(366)
Canadian0.2%(361)
Portuguese0.2%(336)
Iranian0.2%(309)
Austrian0.2%(291)
Belgian0.1%(210)
Syrian0.1%(195)
Lebanese0.1%(192)
Romanian0.1%(190)
Egyptian0.1%(145)
Ethiopian0.1%(130)
Israeli0.1%(121)
Ghanaian0.1%(113)
Finnish0.1%(110)
Brazilian0.1%(100)
Latvian0.1%(96)
Haitian0.1%(95)
Bulgarian0.1%(85)
Serbian0%(43)
Armenian0%(27)
Somali0%(24)
Moroccan0%(21)
Kenyan0%(17)
Iraqi0%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.2%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 36.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 88.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.2 min
+60%since 2000
from 12.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
63.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 67.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.3%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
71.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 70.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
18.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
50.8%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Female
47.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2013
from 7.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2017
from 81.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
93.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 92.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
77.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 77.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 89.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married51%(37,693)
Married39.7%(29,356)
Widowed2.1%(1,548)
Divorced7.2%(5,361)
Women 15+
Never married40.7%(26,837)
Married44.1%(29,029)
Widowed6.8%(4,498)
Divorced8.4%(5,521)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2013
from 7.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
64.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2020
from 67.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
19.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
17.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 15.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
12.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
80.7%
−2.9 ptssince 2020
from 83.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
28.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 25.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)25.1%(1,700)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.1%(1,637)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32%(2,174)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.1%(411)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3.8%(259)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 6,785 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Centre County, decade by decade

Centre County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990123,786$62,546$179,76532.3%15.3
2000135,758$65,880$199,28936.3%22.0
2010153,990$67,636$252,90140.0%27.8
2020158,172$75,051$294,16245.8%40.0
2024158,576$74,291$323,50046.2%38.4

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Centre County

Johnson County
Pop 160,044
Mesa County
Pop 162,845
Sumter County
Pop 157,772
Washington County
Pop 157,731
Places similar to Centre County
Head to head

Compare Centre County to nearby counties

CENTRE COUNTY VS
Mifflin County
Income$63,953−14%
Home value$156,700−52%
Population46,127−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRE COUNTY VS
Clinton County
Income$60,816−18%
Home value$175,900−46%
Population37,870−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRE COUNTY VS
Clearfield County
Income$62,152−16%
Home value$137,000−58%
Population78,100−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRE COUNTY VS
Huntingdon County
Income$65,557−12%
Home value$183,200−43%
Population43,001−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Centre County, Pennsylvania?

Centre County, Pennsylvania has about 158,576 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Centre County, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in Centre County, Pennsylvania earns about $74,291 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Centre County, Pennsylvania expensive?

In Centre County, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $323,500, and the typical rent is about $1,207 a month.

How educated are people in Centre County, Pennsylvania?

About 46.2% of adults age 25 and over in Centre County, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Centre County, Pennsylvania?

About 16.3% of people in Centre County, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has Centre County, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, Centre County, Pennsylvania has grown since 1990. The population has added about 34,790 residents, a change of about 28 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →