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Centre County

PA · Pop. 158,041 · Mixed County

54/100Homestead Score

Centre County, Pennsylvania covers 1,107 square miles with a population of 158,041 and a density of 142.8 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, corn, soybeans. The median home price is $308,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.07%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 184-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F and average winter lows of 22.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Mount Nittany Medical Center is 6.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.07%
Growing Season: 184 days
Broadband: 93.1%
Density: 142.8/sq mi

Pros

  • Broadband reaches 93.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Mount Nittany Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 6.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.3% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.

At a glance

Centre County, PA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
54/100
Median home price
$308k
Property tax
1.07%
Growing season
184 days (zone 6b)
Annual rainfall
39.6"
Broadband
93.1%
Nearest hospital
Mount Nittany Medical Center, 6.3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.07%
Median Household Income$72,748
Poverty Rate16.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$308K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6b
Growing Season184 days
Annual Rainfall39.6 inches
Avg Summer High79.9°F
Avg Winter Low22.2°F
Top CropsHay, Corn, Soybeans

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought1/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado5/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalMount Nittany Medical Center (6.3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities3

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93.1%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.3%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Centre County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Centre County?
Centre County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 184-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F, and average winter lows of 22.2°F. The established crops are hay, corn, soybeans.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $308,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.07%. Per-acre raw-land prices vary widely by parcel here, so check active listings for current rates.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 93.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Mount Nittany Medical Center is 6.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.