Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
State College, PA

Cost of living in Centre County, PA

Part of the State College Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,042/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 158,041 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,234 41%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $390 13%
Groceries $341 11%
Transport $250 8%
Energy $205 7%
State tax $87 3%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Centre County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,226
per month
1 bedroom
$1,234
per month
2 bedroom
$1,431
per month
3 bedroom
$1,743
per month
4 bedroom
$1,897
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Centre County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$72,748
per year
Individual earnings
$33,889
per year
Per capita
$38,732
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Centre County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$308,100
Annual property tax
$3,282

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Centre County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$143
per month · 17.9¢/kWh
Natural gas
$62
per month
Annual total
$2,460
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Centre County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
5.5%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Centre County

State and local tax rates for Pennsylvania.

State income tax
3.1%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.3%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Centre County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.3 min
Drive alone
66.0%
Public transit
3.6%
Work from home
13.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Centre County

What it costs to live in Centre County each month.

Single person
$3,042
per month
  • Rent $1,234
  • Energy $205
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $341
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $390
  • State tax $87
Couple
$4,568
per month
  • Rent $1,431
  • Energy $246
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $565
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $861
  • State tax $186
Family
$7,030
per month
  • Rent $1,743
  • Energy $308
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $857
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $861
  • State tax $186

Frequently asked questions about Centre County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Centre County?

In Centre County, PA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,234 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,431 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,743 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Centre County?

In Centre County, PA, the average household income is $72,748 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $33,889 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Centre County?

The estimated cost of living in Centre County, PA is approximately $3,042 per month for a single person, $4,568 for a couple, $7,030 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Centre County?

The combined sales tax rate in Centre County, PA is 6.34%, which includes the Pennsylvania state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.34%.

Is Centre County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Centre County, PA would need approximately $3,042 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $72,748 per year ($6,062 per month). Centre County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Centre County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Centre County, PA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 5.5% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Centre County?

The average home value in Centre County, PA is $308,100, with average annual property taxes of $3,282, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Centre County compare to other areas?

You can compare Centre County, PA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Centre County is in the State College, PA metro area.

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Browse the full list of counties in Pennsylvania, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Pennsylvania

Compare Centre County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources