County profile · Pennsylvania
Centre County, PA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Centre County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 157,393
- −0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 59,013
- Median household income
- $74,291
- +23.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $323,500
- Jobs located here
- 66,922
- Highest market score
- 75
- HVAC and plumbing, #113 of 1,707 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Centre County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Centre County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 157,393 people live in Centre County, in 59,013 households. Population estimates show Centre County declined 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Centre County is $74,291 a year, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 23.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Centre County spend the most on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on pets (69).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Centre County are for HVAC and plumbing companies (75), convenience stores (75) and nail salons (74). Centre County ranks #113 of 1,707 scored counties for HVAC and plumbing companies.
Centre County is part of the State College metro area. For its number of households, Centre County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for veterinarians (48% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for nail salons (60% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Centre County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Centre County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC and plumbing | 75 | #113 of 1,707 | 25 | 4.2 | $7.2M | 152 | 35 |
| Convenience stores | 75 | #294 of 2,261 | 41 | 6.9 | $9.5M | 121 | 9 |
| Nail salons | 74 | #95 of 1,328 | 14 | 2.4 | $4.1M | 247 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 74 | #122 of 2,057 | 56 | 9.5 | $3.2M | 133 | 55 |
| Electricians | 73 | #118 of 1,160 | 13 | 2.2 | $13.9M | 116 | 15 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 72 | #389 of 2,402 | 98 | 16.6 | $4M | 118 | 29 |
| Laundromats | 70 | #151 of 785 | 6 | 1.0 | $21.9M | 175 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 70 | #162 of 1,177 | 18 | 3.1 | $10.1M | 119 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | 70 | #406 of 2,070 | 33 | 5.6 | $11.8M | 127 | 20 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 64 | #192 of 887 | 20 | 3.4 | Index only | 134 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 64 | #352 of 1,356 | 15 | 2.5 | $3.9M | 204 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 63 | #447 of 1,611 | 28 | 4.7 | $1.2M | 119 | 31 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 63 | #593 of 2,210 | 99 | 16.8 | $1.3M | 150 | 31 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 62 | #473 of 2,176 | 98 | 16.6 | Index only | 196 | 40 |
| Car washes and detailing | 61 | #431 of 1,451 | 15 | 2.5 | $3.2M | 128 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 61 | #483 of 1,530 | 11 | 1.9 | $4.4M | 176 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 61 | #647 of 2,087 | 74 | 12.5 | $1.8M | 139 | 31 |
| Gas stations | 59 | #783 of 2,358 | 35 | 5.9 | $3.2M | 135 | 40 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 58 | #523 of 1,461 | 12 | 2.0 | $3.1M | 122 | 8 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 54 | #564 of 1,327 | 14 | 2.4 | $3.5M | 112 | 8 |
| Spas and skin care | 54 | #725 of 1,769 | 42 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 157 | 15 |
| Real estate | 54 | #862 of 2,229 | 140 | 23.7 | Index only | 172 | 85 |
| Funeral homes | 53 | #619 of 1,472 | 12 | 2.0 | $714K | 105 | 10 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #966 of 2,385 | 171 | 29.0 | $338K | 159 | 76 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #1,046 of 2,339 | 100 | 16.9 | $578K | 134 | 49 |
| Auto repair and car care | 52 | #1,124 of 2,401 | 162 | 27.5 | $299K | 111 | 65 |
| Pest control | 51 | #334 of 699 | 8 | 1.4 | $9.3M | 91 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 51 | #1,132 of 2,405 | 302 | 51.2 | $758K | 114 | 105 |
| Auto repair shops | 51 | #1,133 of 2,378 | 93 | 15.8 | $521K | 117 | 49 |
| Physical therapy | 48 | #773 of 1,422 | 32 | 5.4 | $2.2M | 90 | 16 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #1,215 of 2,222 | 80 | 13.6 | $2.9M | 94 | 116 |
| Property management | 47 | #497 of 910 | 21 | 3.6 | Index only | 90 | 27 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 46 | #970 of 1,656 | 39 | 6.6 | $1.8M | 100 | 71 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 46 | #1,168 of 2,063 | 58 | 9.8 | $3.9M | 107 | 39 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 46 | #1,346 of 2,405 | 591 | 100.1 | $387K | 104 | 263 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 43 | #865 of 1,334 | 31 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 84 | 15 |
| Pizza | 43 | #1,318 of 2,090 | 61 | 10.3 | $3.8M | 74 | 116 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 42 | #525 of 777 | 11 | 1.9 | $4.8M | 118 | 26 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 39 | #343 of 479 | 5 | 0.8 | $9.7M | 71 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 38 | #1,360 of 1,889 | 61 | 10.3 | $3.8M | 91 | 42 |
| House cleaning | 36 | #659 of 847 | 13 | 2.2 | $5.7M | 89 | 35 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 36 | #1,439 of 1,886 | 66 | 11.2 | $1.1M | 107 | 52 |
| Insurance agencies | 35 | #1,637 of 2,272 | 65 | 11.0 | $1.4M | 108 | 52 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #1,672 of 2,088 | 101 | 17.1 | $520K | 79 | 41 |
| Gyms | 33 | #1,425 of 1,792 | 59 | 10.0 | $891K | 68 | 26 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 32 | #1,057 of 1,302 | 32 | 5.4 | $2.2M | 69 | 11 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 32 | #1,225 of 1,493 | 41 | 6.9 | $1.8M | 62 | 56 |
| Chiropractors | 32 | #1,226 of 1,490 | 41 | 6.9 | $1.7M | 71 | 21 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 30 | #1,575 of 1,771 | 62 | 10.5 | $1.2M | 71 | 95 |
| Pet stores | 29 | #792 of 974 | 16 | 2.7 | $2.3M | 51 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 29 | #2,122 of 2,394 | 555 | 94.0 | $125K | 82 | 171 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #2,004 of 2,200 | 67 | 11.4 | $554K | 63 | 35 |
| Veterinarians | 17 | #1,409 of 1,485 | 29 | 4.9 | $1.3M | 47 | 23 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.7 | $32.8M | 209 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.5 | $23.1M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
Household spending in Centre County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $48.5M | $821 | 86 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $112.4M | $1,905 | 73 |
| Food away from home | $228.9M | $3,879 | 95 |
| Groceries | $391M | $6,625 | 105 |
| Personal care products and services | $57.8M | $980 | 98 |
| Child care and other personal services | $33.4M | $566 | 98 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $52.6M | $891 | 91 |
| Medical and dental services | $69.4M | $1,176 | 91 |
| Pets | $37.1M | $629 | 69 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $131.1M | $2,222 | 108 |
| Vehicle insurance | $88.1M | $1,493 | 76 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $181.2M | $3,071 | 102 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $74.1M | $1,256 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1B | $17,708 | 106 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Centre County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 157,393−0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 59,013
- Median age
- 38.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 1,107 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 143
- Median household income
- $74,291+23.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $100,987
- Median home value
- $323,500
- Jobs located here
- 66,922
- Daytime population
- 170,905Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Centre County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Centre County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Centre County, PA growing?
Population estimates put Centre County at 157,393 people in 2025, down 0.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 59,013 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in Centre County, PA spend?
Households in Centre County spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $391M on groceries and $228.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Centre County runs highest on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on pets (69).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Centre County, PA?
Of the business types scored in Centre County, HVAC and plumbing companies (75), convenience stores (75) and nail salons (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For HVAC and plumbing companies, that ranks #113 of 1,707 scored counties.
How does Centre County, PA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Centre County is $74,291, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $323,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for veterinarians (48% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for nail salons (60% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 53 of the 56 business types have a score in Centre County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Centre County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Pennsylvania · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Centre County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Centre County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.