State College, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In State College, PA Summary
Cost of living in State College research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means State College is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in State College is 121, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in State College is 1.2x higher than the national average.
State College ranks as the #224 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
State College ranks as the #4,476 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in State College is $403,863.
The median income in State College is $47,132.
Table Of Contents
State College's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in State College, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, State College has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, State College has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 100.
The standard of living in State College ranks as #224 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies State College ranks as the #31 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in State College, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
State College Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in State College. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in State College is 108.
The Groceries index in State College is 97.
The Health index in State College is 111.
The Housing index in State College is 158.
The Transportation index in State College is 108.
The Utilities index in State College is 92.
| Living Expense | State College | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 100 | 100 | |
| Services | 108 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 97 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 111 | 95 | 100 | |
| Housing | 158 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 108 | 108 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 92 | 108 | 100 | |
State College, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in State College is $403,863.
The Median Rent in State College is $1,229.
The Median Income in State College is $47,132.
The Home Value To Income in State College is 8.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in State College is 0.31x.
| Statistic | State College | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $403,863 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,229 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $47,132 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.6x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
State College, PA Costs By Category
Detailed State College Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.52 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.39 | $45.56 |
Detailed State College Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.65 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.67 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed State College Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed State College Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed State College Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
State College SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around State College
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around State College. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Altoona, PA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.7x State College.
Jacksonville, TX has a cost of living index of 87, 0.7x State College.
Lock Haven, PA has a cost of living index of 92, 0.8x State College.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. State College |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 43,508 | 89 | 0.7x |
| Jacksonville, TX | 14,186 | 87 | 0.7x |
| Lock Haven, PA | 8,386 | 92 | 0.8x |
| Huntingdon, PA | 6,884 | 93 | 0.8x |
| Bellefonte, PA | 6,022 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Clearfield, PA | 5,918 | 85 | 0.7x |
| Hollidaysburg, PA | 5,581 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Tyrone, PA | 5,421 | 87 | 0.7x |
