Metro area profile · Pennsylvania
State College, PA metro area market data
How the State College metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- 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
- 77
- Home repair trades, #13 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the State College metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the State College metro area. 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
The State College metro area has an estimated 157,393 people and 59,013 households. Population estimates show the State College metro area declined 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the State College metro area is $74,291, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 23.0%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the State College metro area runs highest on clothing, shoes and related services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on pets (69).
Of the business types scored in the State College metro area, home repair companies (77); HVAC and plumbing companies (76); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For home repair companies, that ranks #13 of 387 scored metro areas.
The State College metro area is made up of one county, Centre County. 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).
All 56 business types in the State College metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the State College metro area with other metro areas 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 metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home repair trades | 77 | #13 of 387 | 56 | 9.5 | $3.2M | 133 | 55 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 76 | #16 of 387 | 25 | 4.2 | $7.2M | 152 | 35 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 76 | #30 of 387 | 99 | 16.8 | $1.3M | 150 | 31 |
| Electricians | 73 | #28 of 383 | 13 | 2.2 | $13.9M | 116 | 15 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 73 | #45 of 387 | 74 | 12.5 | $1.8M | 139 | 31 |
| Nail salons | 71 | #31 of 387 | 14 | 2.4 | $4.1M | 247 | 6 |
| Laundromats | 71 | #55 of 364 | 6 | 1.0 | $21.9M | 175 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 70 | #43 of 381 | 18 | 3.1 | $10.1M | 119 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 69 | #43 of 387 | 98 | 16.6 | Index only | 196 | 40 |
| Real estate | 67 | #50 of 387 | 140 | 23.7 | Index only | 172 | 85 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 67 | #75 of 387 | 98 | 16.6 | $4M | 118 | 29 |
| Grocery stores | 66 | #80 of 387 | 33 | 5.6 | $11.8M | 127 | 20 |
| Convenience stores | 66 | #83 of 387 | 41 | 6.9 | $9.5M | 121 | 9 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 63 | #74 of 373 | 20 | 3.4 | Index only | 134 | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #106 of 387 | 28 | 4.7 | $1.2M | 119 | 31 |
| Car washes and detailing | 61 | #113 of 387 | 15 | 2.5 | $3.2M | 128 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 59 | #138 of 386 | 11 | 1.9 | $4.4M | 176 | 7 |
| Barbershops | 58 | #123 of 387 | 15 | 2.5 | $3.9M | 204 | 4 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 57 | #115 of 387 | 171 | 29.0 | $338K | 159 | 76 |
| Spas and skin care | 56 | #129 of 387 | 42 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 157 | 15 |
| Auto repair and car care | 55 | #158 of 387 | 162 | 27.5 | $299K | 111 | 65 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 54 | #163 of 386 | 12 | 2.0 | $3.1M | 122 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #146 of 387 | 100 | 16.9 | $578K | 134 | 49 |
| Gas stations | 53 | #171 of 387 | 35 | 5.9 | $3.2M | 135 | 40 |
| Auto repair shops | 53 | #173 of 387 | 93 | 15.8 | $521K | 117 | 49 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 52 | #167 of 387 | 302 | 51.2 | $758K | 114 | 105 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 49 | #207 of 381 | 14 | 2.4 | $3.5M | 112 | 8 |
| Pest control | 48 | #184 of 345 | 8 | 1.4 | $9.3M | 91 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #209 of 387 | 80 | 13.6 | $2.9M | 94 | 116 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 47 | #209 of 387 | 591 | 100.1 | $387K | 104 | 263 |
| Property management | 46 | #221 of 374 | 21 | 3.6 | Index only | 90 | 27 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 46 | #234 of 387 | 39 | 6.6 | $1.8M | 100 | 71 |
| Physical therapy | 45 | #226 of 386 | 32 | 5.4 | $2.2M | 90 | 16 |
| Funeral homes | 42 | #230 of 377 | 12 | 2.0 | $714K | 105 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 42 | #260 of 387 | 58 | 9.8 | $3.9M | 107 | 39 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 41 | #260 of 387 | 66 | 11.2 | $1.1M | 107 | 52 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #250 of 387 | 65 | 11.0 | $1.4M | 108 | 52 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 39 | #265 of 347 | 11 | 1.9 | $4.8M | 118 | 26 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 38 | #210 of 290 | 5 | 0.8 | $9.7M | 71 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 37 | #313 of 387 | 31 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 84 | 15 |
| Pizza | 36 | #301 of 387 | 61 | 10.3 | $3.8M | 74 | 116 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 36 | #313 of 387 | 555 | 94.0 | $125K | 82 | 171 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 35 | #308 of 387 | 61 | 10.3 | $3.8M | 91 | 42 |
| House cleaning | 33 | #311 of 375 | 13 | 2.2 | $5.7M | 89 | 35 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 28 | #364 of 387 | 101 | 17.1 | $520K | 79 | 41 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 27 | #352 of 387 | 62 | 10.5 | $1.2M | 71 | 95 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 25 | #351 of 385 | 41 | 6.9 | $1.8M | 62 | 56 |
| Chiropractors | 25 | #365 of 386 | 41 | 6.9 | $1.7M | 71 | 21 |
| Gyms | 24 | #373 of 387 | 59 | 10.0 | $891K | 68 | 26 |
| Pet stores | 22 | #363 of 382 | 16 | 2.7 | $2.3M | 51 | 4 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 22 | #371 of 386 | 32 | 5.4 | $2.2M | 69 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 16 | #378 of 387 | 67 | 11.4 | $554K | 63 | 35 |
| Veterinarians | 8 | #382 of 384 | 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 the State College metro area
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 the State College metro area
- 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 the State College metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. 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 the State College metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the State College metro area 1
- Centre County, PA158,576 people
Other markets based in Pennsylvania 12
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- Pittsburgh, PA metro area2,439,940 people
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area873,603 people
- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area604,155 people
- Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area569,788 people
- Lancaster, PA metro area557,931 people
- York-Hanover, PA metro area462,924 people
- Reading, PA metro area433,015 people
- Erie, PA metro area269,052 people
- Chambersburg, PA metro area157,379 people
- Lebanon, PA metro area144,186 people
- Johnstown, PA metro area131,538 people
Questions
How fast is the State College, PA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the State College metro area at 157,393 people in 2025, down 0.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 59,013 households. Median household income rose 23.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the State College, PA metro area spend?
Households in the State College metro area spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $391M on groceries and $228.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the State College metro area 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).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the State College, PA metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the State College metro area are for home repair companies (77); HVAC and plumbing companies (76); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (76). The State College metro area ranks #13 of 387 scored metro areas for home repair companies.
How does the State College, PA metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the State College metro area is $74,291 a year, 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. For its number of households, the State College metro area 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).
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 the State College metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the State College metro area. 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 the State College metro area?
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 the State College metro area. 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.