State College, PA Housing Market
AI-powered market intelligence for the State College, PA metro area.
PropertyIQ Scores
State College, PA Market Analysis
Market Overview
State College, PA is a moderate real estate market, as reflected by its PropertyIQ Score of 55 out of 100. The market’s strengths and weaknesses are visible when measured against Pennsylvania benchmarks. The median home value is $351,308, well above the state average of $290,401, and the rent index is $1,762, substantially higher than the state average of $1,162. At the same time, the local unemployment rate is 2.8%, compared with 3.9% statewide, signaling a relatively stable employment base. However, median household income is $72,748, slightly below the state average of $76,081. That mismatch between higher housing costs and lower local incomes is a core reason the market does not score higher.
The top score drivers add important detail. The 12-month home value momentum is positive at 4.49%, but the 3-month momentum is -1.21%, showing recent cooling. Median days on market is 51 days, and 16.7% of listings have had a price cut. Those figures indicate a market that is still active but not strongly tilted toward sellers. With 232 homes for sale, there is visible inventory. Population growth is listed as N/A, so migration-driven demand cannot be assessed from the provided data.
Key Trends
The clearest trend is cooling price momentum. The 12-month home value momentum of 4.49% indicates that values rose over the past year, but the 3-month figure of -1.21% points to a short-term pullback. This is reinforced by the 16.7% share of listings with a price cut. The dataset also lists a home value year-over-year change of $1, which is inconsistent with the momentum percentages; because that dollar figure is difficult to interpret, the momentum metrics are more useful here.
A second trend is a moderate sales pace. A median of 51 days on market and 232 homes for sale suggest that homes are not moving at a rapid pace. Combined with price cuts on roughly one in six listings, this points to a market where buyers have some negotiating room.
A third trend is a strong rental market. The rent index of $1,762 is $600 above the Pennsylvania average of $1,162. That premium is notable, especially with a low unemployment rate of 2.8%, and it may support investor interest.
A fourth trend is affordability pressure. The median home value of $351,308 is significantly higher than the state average, while median household income of $72,748 is below the state average of $76,081. Housing costs are elevated relative to local earnings, which can limit how much further prices can climb without stronger income growth.
Who Is This Market For
This market appears best suited for investors and buyers who are focused on rental income or longer-term holds. The rent index of $1,762 is far above the state average of $1,162, suggesting solid rental demand. The low unemployment rate of 2.8% also supports a stable tenant base. However, with a median home value of $351,308 and median household income of $72,748, investors need to be selective about cash flow.
First-time buyers may find the market challenging. The median home value is well above the state average, while local income is slightly below the state average. Still, conditions are not entirely one-sided: 51 days on market and a 16.7% share of listings with price cuts give first-time buyers more opportunity to negotiate than they would have in a faster market.
Move-up buyers with existing equity may be more comfortable, but the data does not break out buyer segments. Overall, the market’s high rents relative to the state and its moderate sales pace make it more attractive for rental-focused investors than for budget-constrained first-time buyers.
Outlook
The near-term outlook for State College is one of moderation. The negative 3-month home value momentum of -1.21%, the 16.7% share of listings with price cuts, and a median of 51 days on market suggest that price growth has slowed. At the same time, the 12-month home value momentum of 4.49% and the 2.8% unemployment rate provide underlying support. The rental market should remain a relative bright spot, given a rent index of $1,762 compared with the state average of $1,162. However, the gap between the median home value of $351,308 and median household income of $72,748 may keep affordability in focus. With 232 homes for sale and no population growth data available, the data supports a stable-to-cooling market rather than rapid appreciation.
AI-generated analysis based on current market data. Last updated September 25, 2026.
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State College, PA market data
State College, PA Housing Market Overview
State College, PA's median home value is $351K, up 4.5% over the past year. Homes here sell in a median 51 days. Its PropertyIQ Score of 55 sits right around the state average of 50.
The State College, PA metro area is one of 900+ US metropolitan markets that PropertyIQ scores each month. A single PropertyIQ Score blends Zillow price momentum with Realtor.com market-flow signals to estimate 3-year excess appreciation versus the market's state — showing not just where prices stand today, but how the market is positioned relative to its peers.
The Mid-Atlantic corridor benefits from proximity to major financial centers and government institutions. Housing markets in this region balance urban density with suburban expansion, creating varied opportunities from walkable city neighborhoods to rapidly growing exurbs. Within the Mid-Atlantic, State College, PA's PropertyIQ Score of 55 tracks near the Mid-Atlantic norm.
Pennsylvania's housing market spans from Philadelphia's dense urban neighborhoods to Pittsburgh's tech-driven renaissance and rural communities in between, offering diverse investment profiles at various price points.
Each month, PropertyIQ updates its score for State College, PA using four inputs: Zillow ZHVI twelve-month and three-month momentum, Realtor.com median days on market, and the Realtor.com share of listings with price cuts. These four signals are combined into a single 1 to 99 score computed across all metro markets and calibrated so 50 represents the state average, making it a direct read of how this market is positioned to perform relative to its state. Momentum here has been positive, with home values up 4.5% over the past year.
Explore the interactive map to see how State College, PA compares to neighboring metros, or view the full market dashboard for detailed analytics including time-series trends, score breakdowns, and AI-generated market reports.
Counties in the State College, PA metro area
ZIP codes in the State College, PA metro area
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Market data through August 2026. Sourced from Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, U.S. Census Bureau, FRED, BLS, and BEA. Per-statistic source and date shown above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is State College, PA a good place to buy real estate in 2026?
PropertyIQ doesn't label markets simply good or bad. Instead, the PropertyIQ Score measures a market's demand momentum against its own state, where 50 marks the state average. State College, PA currently scores 55, a steady-momentum reading that leaves it tracking close to its state average. For buyers, a balanced market means neither side holds a decisive edge, giving you time to shop carefully without racing the clock. Backing that up, the median home value here is $351K, up 4.5% over the past year. So whether State College, PA is right for you comes down to your goals: a rising-momentum market can favor long-term appreciation but offers less room to negotiate, while a cooling one hands buyers more leverage. Treat the score as a timing signal to weigh alongside your budget, holding period, and plans for the property, not a verdict on the market's quality.
What is the PropertyIQ Score for State College, PA?
State College, PA's PropertyIQ Score is 55, indicating steady momentum on a 1-to-99 scale. The score distills four transparent inputs into a single number: Zillow home-value momentum over the past 12 months, Zillow home-value momentum over the past 3 months, the median days homes spend on the market from Realtor.com, and the share of listings with a price cut, also from Realtor.com. Rising values and faster sales push the score up, while slow sales and frequent price cuts pull it down. The scale is calibrated so 50 equals the state average, meaning a score above 50 predicts the market will outperform its state over the next three years and a score below 50 predicts underperformance. PropertyIQ computes the score across every US market nationally, then recenters it against each state, so 55 places State College, PA above its state benchmark.
Are home prices in State College, PA rising or falling?
Home prices in State College, PA are rising. Over the past year, the median home value increased 4.5%, reaching $351K. Over the latest three months, values slipped 1.2%, a sign near-term demand is softening. PropertyIQ derives these figures from Zillow's home-value index, which tracks the typical value across the market rather than only the homes that happened to sell, giving a steadier read than a raw median sale price. Both the 12-month and 3-month momentum readings feed directly into the PropertyIQ Score, so this price trend is one of the core signals behind State College, PA's current score. Keep in mind that appreciation can vary widely by neighborhood and price tier across the metro area, so treat these figures as the market-wide baseline rather than a guarantee for any single property.
How quickly do homes sell in State College, PA?
In State College, PA, homes sell in a median of 51 days from listing to pending sale, based on Realtor.com market data. Median days on market is one of the clearest real-time reads on local demand: when homes move quickly, buyers are competing and sellers hold the advantage, while lengthening timelines signal cooling interest and more room to negotiate. Alongside sale speed, about 17% of active listings here have taken at least one price cut — a complementary demand gauge, since a rising share of reductions often precedes slower sales and softer prices. Both median days on market and the price-cut share feed directly into the PropertyIQ Score, where faster sales and fewer cuts push the score higher. As a general guide, medians under about 30 days indicate a brisk, competitive market, while medians well beyond 60 days point to buyers regaining leverage. Actual time on market still varies by price band, property type, and season, so treat the median as a market-wide baseline.
How current is this metro area data?
This State College, PA market data is refreshed on a monthly cycle, with the latest figures current through August 2026. PropertyIQ ingests fresh data every month from a range of authoritative sources: home values and rents from Zillow, days on market and price-cut activity from Realtor.com, additional housing signals from Redfin, demographic and housing-stock data from the U.S. Census Bureau, mortgage and macroeconomic series from FRED, and employment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The PropertyIQ Score itself is recomputed every month once the new source data lands, so the score and its four underlying inputs always reflect the most recent complete reporting period rather than a static snapshot. Because official housing data is typically released with a short lag, the current-through date usually trails the present by a few weeks, which is normal across the industry and not a sign the data is out of date.