What percentage of people rent in State College, PA?

Name: Renters and owners in State College, PA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

73.9% (±2.2 points) of the occupied homes in State College, PA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 8,314 renting households against 2,943 that own their home.

In State College, the share of households that rent went from 74.6% in 2015–2019 to 73.9% in 2020–2024 (−0.7 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 73.9% (±2.2 points)
Renting households: 8,314 (±483)
Median renter income: $35,176 (±$3,594)

Who rents and who owns in State College

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	State College	Centre County	Pennsylvania	United States
Renter-occupied share	73.9% (±2.2 points)	38.2% (±1.2 points)	30.7% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	8,314 (±483)	22,546 (±803)	1,617,882 (±10,181)	45,017,354
Owning households	2,943 (±259)	36,467 (±692)	3,656,971 (±15,249)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.2 (±0.1)	2.0 (±0.1)	2.1 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.5 (±0.2)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$35,176 (±$3,594)	$39,074 (±$2,659)	$47,506 (±$425)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$140,123 (±$12,735)	$104,257 (±$3,110)	$95,990 (±$362)	$100,009

In State College, the renter share is higher than in Centre County (38.2%).

It is also higher than in Pennsylvania (30.7%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Centre County, State College ranks 1 of 35 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 3 of 2,557.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in State College has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	74.6% (±2.0 points)	73.9% (±2.2 points)	−0.7 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$1,054 (±$38)	$1,273 (±$55)	+20.8%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$34,005 (±$3,358)	$45,424 (±$6,688)	+33.6%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near State College

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with State College
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
State College	—	73.9% (±2.2 points)	—
Lemont	2.6 mi	23.1% (±16.8 points)	Lower
College Township	2.6 mi	23.5% (±4.8 points)	Lower
Toftrees	2.8 mi	83.1% (±8.6 points)	Higher
Park Forest Village	2.8 mi	44.4% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Houserville	3.0 mi	11.9% (±7.1 points)	Lower
Patton Township	4.3 mi	49.5% (±4.4 points)	Lower
Boalsburg	4.4 mi	21.3% (±8.5 points)	Lower
Pine Grove Mills	4.4 mi	10.2% (±10.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Lemont, PA (23.1%), College Township, PA (23.5%), Park Forest Village, PA (44.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Toftrees, PA (83.1%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Centre County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	State College	73.9% (±2.2 points)
2	Patton Township	49.5% (±4.4 points)
3	Bellefonte	49.1% (±6.7 points)
4	Philipsburg	47.8% (±8.3 points)
5	Ferguson Township (Centre County)	41.1% (±3.4 points)
6	Port Matilda	40.1% (±11.5 points)
7	Milesburg	34.8% (±9.9 points)

Showing 7 of 35 places in Centre County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about State College

How many renters are there in State College?

State College has an estimated 8,314 (±483) renting households, 73.9% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in State College?

In State College, the share of households that rent went from 74.6% in 2015–2019 to 73.9% in 2020–2024 (−0.7 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in State College?

A renting household in State College has 2.2 people on average, against 2.5 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in State College?

The median renting household in State College, PA has an income of $35,176 (±$3,594) a year, against $140,123 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for State College borough, Pennsylvania (place:73808, in state:42).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.