Census ACS · #278 MSA
State College Metro Area
The State College, Pa Metropolitan Statistical Area has 158,041 residents. The median household income is $72,748 and the median home value is $308,100.
158,041
Population
143
People / sq mi
$72,748
Median Income
$308,100
Median Home Value
The State College CBSA covers 1,107 sq mi of land at 142.7 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 84.9% |
| Black or African American | 3.3% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.9% |
Economy & Income
$72,748
Median Household Income
$38,732
Per Capita Income
5.7%
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The State College metro's price level is 96.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 3.2% lower the US average. The local median income of $72,748 has the buying power of $75,182 in average-priced US metros.
96.8
Price Level (US = 100)
$75,182
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$72,748
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$308,100
Median Home Value
$1,181
Median Rent
61.8%
Homeownership
Education
94.6%
High School+
46.5%
Bachelor's+
Commute
3.6%
Drive Alone
13.6%
Work From Home
20.3 min
Avg Commute
24.8%
Foreign Born
State College spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Pennsylvania
Largest counties in Pennsylvania
Part of Pennsylvania
Other metros
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The State College, Pa Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 158,041 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #278 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the State College metro area is $72,748, with a per capita income of $38,732.
The State College, Pa CBSA spans the state of Pennsylvania.
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More from Pennsylvania
Data for the State College, Pa CBSA (44300) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
State College is defined demographically by education — 46.5% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national average. With 158,041 residents, State College is a metro area in PA.
Median household income is $72,748, below the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US metro areas at 5.7%, below the national 12.4%. A typical home is worth $308,100, with typical rent around $1,181.
Degree attainment is near the top of the range for US metro areas: 46.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s, above the 35.0% national rate.
The education numbers are the throughline: a college-heavy population in State College usually coincides with higher incomes and a workforce concentrated in professional and information industries.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.