The proud home of Penn State University and then some
If any place is the epitome of a college town, it’s probably State College, Pennsylvania. Home to the Pennsylvania State University’s main campus, the borough’s year-round population of 40,000 more than doubles when school starts each fall. “A lot of the people here live and die by Penn State,” says Benjamin Reeves, a borough resident and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. “You don’t even have to be affiliated with the University; it’s a centerpiece of the community.” Although residents of this small town might bleed blue and white, there’s also more to State College than its name might suggest. Brad Groznik, a Penn State graduate who moved back to the borough to start a family, helped launch the Rediscover State College campaign to show people that there’s more to the town than Penn State and football. “It has that metropolitan feel downtown with all the bars and restaurants, but you’re also 10 minutes from being in the middle of the woods,” he says. “There are a lot of benefits to living in a town where 45,000 people go to school. We have an airport, all the shopping you need, and some major touring artists come through here.”
Penn State University is Centre County’s top employer and a major regional economic driver. “Everybody in State College ends up working for the University at some point or another,” Groznik jokes. Between the town’s two hospitals — Mount Nittany Medical Center and Penn Highlands State College — healthcare is the area’s second largest industry.
Students and faculty of State College have a short commute to the Penn State Main Campus.
Penn State University in State College PA was founded in 1855 as an agricultural college.
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Unique neighborhoods at above-average prices
Each neighborhood in the borough has a distinct feel, with a high concentration of condos and townhouses downtown. The gridded streets of Highlands and Holmes-Foster are home to a high concentration of Foursquares, bungalows and Neoclassical houses between the student apartments and fraternities. Surrounding areas such as Greentree and State College South have late 20th-century ranch-style homes. “It’s a quirky college town, and the houses reflect that,” Groznik says. “The only real drawback is that they are, on average, expensive. But it’s still a fraction of what you’d pay in a larger city.” The median price of a single-family home is $425,000, higher than the state median of $315,000. Townhouses sell at a median price of $380,000. Homes spend an average of 29 days on the market, less than the national average of 44 days.
Townhomes are a popular option in State College for students to rent or own for off campus housing.
State College has many quiet streets with ranch homes.
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Top-notch public schools and a love for the Nittany Lions
State College Area School District scores an A grade from Niche, making it the highest-rated district in Centre County. “Because it’s a college town, people really value education, and that shows in our public schools,” Groznik says. The district operates eight elementary schools, two middle schools and State College Area High. The high school boasts a 97.5% graduation rate and offers 12 career and technical education programs.
There’s no separating State College from Pennsylvania State University, a large public university whose campus takes up a sizable portion of town. Beyond its varied academic offerings, the college is best known for its Division I athletics. The Penn State Nittany Lions football team has won multiple national and conference championship titles as recently as 2016, and gamedays are a major event in State College. “On football weekends, State College goes from small town to one of the biggest boroughs in the state,” Groznik says. “And when the team wins, downtown retail jumps by 25%.”
State College Area High School teaches 2,410 students in State College, PA.
Join Penn State students at Beaver Stadium in Highlands for the highly renowned white out game.
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Farmers markets and college bars in Downtown State College
Downtown State College spans numerous blocks between College Avenue and Beaver Avenue, packed to the brim with eclectic college bars, cafes and a diverse range of eateries. Storefronts range from historic to modern and house locally owned shops, hotels and convenience stores. In the middle of all the action is the State Theatre, which brings movies and live performances to the community. Since downtown is directly adjacent to Penn State’s campus, the streets are often filled with backpack-clad college students. “In the summer, it feels like you own the town,” Groznik says. “You can get a seat at any restaurant and see all the other townies out and about.” Groznik also co-founded Pop Up Ave, a flea market held downtown on Saturdays downtown. On Friday afternoons, the Downtown State College Farmers Market sets up shop on Locust Lane.
Downtown is also a hub for community events, including the Central Pennsylvania Festival for the Arts, which draws in visitors from across the region to explore the sidewalk sale and exhibition every summer. More art is on display year-round at the Palmer Museum of Art, a University-owned museum that opened its new facility in summer 2024. Other downtown events are hosted regularly for football weekends and holidays.
State Theatre is a popular place for students and residents to catch a movie in State College.
The Dou Coffee Co. is a repeat visitor at the Downtown State College Farmers Market.
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Bike paths and midday skiing at Tussey Mountain
Numerous mountains, hunting lands and state forests surround State College. The borough is even 5 miles from Tussey Mountain, a popular ski resort. “I’ve got some friends who will take a long lunch break to go skiing in the middle of the work day,” Reeves says. In town, multiple recreational facilities are owned and operated by the University, including the Penn State Golf Courses and the Arboretum at Penn State. “One thing that people don’t always recognize is how well-maintained our walking and biking trails are,” Reeves says, noting that many of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown are connected by dedicated bike routes, shared-use paths and bike lanes. “They plow them in the winter and have bike pumps along the trails in case you get a flat tire.” Neighborhood parks and sports fields can be found throughout the borough.
State College residents head to Tussey Mountain Ski and Recreation to live their best life.
Penn State Golf Courses offer State College residents 36 holes of pristine golfing.
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At the heart of the Keystone State along I-99
State College is situated in the curve where Interstate 99 meets U.S. Route 322, with multiple state highways passing through town. The borough has its own airport, State College Regional Airport, and is served by Centre Area Transit Authority bus routes. “Everything around downtown is super walkable and bikeable,” Groznik says. “It’s not a very big town, so you can hop in your car and be anywhere in five minutes or hop on a bike and be there in 15 minutes.” State College is also smack-dab in the middle of the state, putting it about 85 miles from Harrisburg, 135 miles from Pittsburgh and 190 miles from Philly. The nearest Amtrak station is roughly 25 miles southeast in Tyrone.
Heavy winter snow and an uptick in violent crime
According to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System, violent crime in State College more than doubled between 2018 and 2023, a total increase of about 130%. Within the same five-year span, property crime decreased by 6%.
State College experiences four seasons, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Thanks in part to its elevation of 1,200 feet above sea level, the borough receives around 45 inches of snowfall annually.
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