Centre County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Centre County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 158,041. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Centre County is 33.8 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 14.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Centre County is $72,748. This is 4% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 44% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $308,100. Housing costs are 28% higher than the state median of $240,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Centre County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.5% of the population. Asian residents account for 6.0%. The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 8.4%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.0% vs 3.7%).

Education

46.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Centre County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%. Notably, 24.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.