The text presented here provides a general overview income and employment in Centre County. This information may be copied/shared freely.

According to the Centre County Comprehensive Plan, "Centre County, located in central Pennsylvania, encompasses 1,112 square miles and contains 25 Townships and 11 Boroughs within its boundary. This diverse County rich with natural and cultural resources, is experiencing rapid growth due to increased development activity, new highway construction, and the loss of prime agricultural lands". (1)

As one of the fastest growing counties in the state, Centre County had a 1990
population of 123,786 and increased by 8.8% to 135,758 in 2000. The U.S. Census estimates a 2005 population of 140,561. (2) Student enrollment at Penn State increased from 38,219 students in 1994 to 40,709 in Fall, 2005. (3)

According to the U.S. 2000 Census, the median age of Centre County residents was 28.7 years. A total of 91.4% of Centre County residents were white, 4% Asian, 2.6% Black/African American, .1% American Indian/Alaska Native, .1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, .7% other race, and 1.1% reported two or more races. Approximately 1.7% of Centre County residents were of Hispanic/Latino origin. A total of 51.1% of residents were male; 48.9% were female. In 2000, there were 14,207 individuals with disabilities (age 5+) living in Centre County. (2)

There were 53,161 housing units in Centre County in 2000, an increase of 16% from 1990. Of the total number of occupied units (49,323), 60.2 % were owner-occupied, and 39.8% were renter-occupied. The U.S. Census estimated by July 1, 2004 there would be 56,372 housing units in the County (2)
In 2000, home ownership trailed the statewide average (60.2% Centre County vs. 71.3% Pennsylvania), while the percent of mutli-unit housing structures is higher in Centre County (30.3%) than statewide (21.2%). (2) According to the Centre County Association of Realtors®, 1,426 homes were sold in 2003 at an average sale price of $166,533. (4) The median monthly gross rent (occupied units) was $565 in 2000. (2) The 2005 fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in Centre County was $677 per month. (5)
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 49,323 households in Centre County. Of those, 58.7% were family households and 42.2% were non-family households. The average family size was 2.95; the average household size was 2.45. (2)

The median family income for a four-person family in 2005 was $59,100 compared to $44,300 in 2000. (5) The 2000 per capita income was $18,020. (2) The average weekly wage was $614 as of the fourth quarter of 2002. The May 2005 unemployment rate was 3.6% and the civilian labor force totaled 74,400. (6) According to the U.S. Census 2000, 6.1% of Centre County families were below the poverty level. (2)
Within Centre County there are seven school districts: Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Keystone Central, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola, State College and Tyrone. Tyrone is the only school district that has all of its facilities located outside of the County. Keystone Central maintains the Liberty-Curtin Elementary School in Blanchard. (1) In addition there are 26 private schools and 3 charter schools. (7, 8) Centre County also has 5 Head Start facilities and 50 licensed day care facilities. (9) Eighty-eight percent of County residents (age 25+) in 2000 were high school graduates; 36.3% had a bachelors degree or higher. (2)

(1) Centre County Comprehensive Plan http://county.centreconnect.org/planning/compplan/index.htm
(2) U.S. Census http://www.census.gov/index.html
(3) Penn State Fact Book http://www.budget.psu.edu/FactBook/GeneralInfo/GeneralInfoTableOfContents.asp
(4) 2005 Official Guide to Centre County, Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, PA
(5) HUD User Data Sets FY 2005 Median Income Estimates http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il/IL05Est/index.html
(6) Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry http://www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/default.asp
(7) Private School Review http://www.privateschoolreview.com
(8) Public School Review http://www.publicschoolreview.com
(9) PA Department of Public Welfare Day Care Facility Directory http://www.dpw.state.pa.us