State College borough, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

State College borough is a mid-sized community located in Pennsylvania, within Centre County. The total population is 40,669. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 1,993 cities and towns in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in State College borough is 21.4 years. This is 48% lower than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 5.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in State College borough is $47,132. This is 38% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 39.1%. This is 232% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $414,400. Housing costs are 72% higher than the state median of $240,500. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 27.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 61% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in State College borough is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.1% of the population. Asian residents account for 10.3%. The Black or African American population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (10.3% vs 3.7%).

Education

70.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places State College borough in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 105% 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 98.2%. Notably, 43.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for State College borough, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,993 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. For official data, visit data.census.gov.