Home in Happy Valley

State College – also known as Happy Valley – makes an appearance on many Best lists because of its friendly atmosphere, rich connection to education, natural resources, and strong economy.

#2: Smartest Cities (Lumosity, 2013)
#3: Best College Towns (American Institute for Economic Research, 2013)
#3: Safest Metropolitan Areas in the United States (CQ Press, 2013)
#4: Most Secure Small Cities (population less than 150,000) in America (Farmers Insurance, 2013)
#8: Best College Towns in America (bestcollegereviews.com, 2014)
#14 Best Small Places for Education (Forbes, 2014)
#48 Best Small Places for Job Growth (Forbes, 2014)
#85 Best Small Places for Business and Careers (Forbes)
#164 Best Small Places for Cost of Doing Business (Forbes, 2014)

At a Glance

Metro Population: 156,100
Major Industries: Education
Gross Metro Product: $7.6 Billion
Median Household Income: $49,466
Median Home Price: $171,900
Unemployment: 4.1%
Job Growth (2013): 0.9%
Cost of Living: 2.7% below US average
Public School Spending: $17,641/student (US average: $12,435)
Public School Student/Teacher Ratio: 13.5:1
College Attainment: 39.4%
Average Commute: 21 minutes
Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 1,516
Average Days Above 90°F: 8 (nat’l avg: 37)
Average Days Below 32°F: 132 (nat’l avg: 88)

Data is for State College metro area. Sources: Moody’s Analytics; Sperling’s BestPlaces; U.S. Census. Numbers as of July 2014.

What to Do

Whether you are a nature lover or prefer the arts, Central Pennsylvania boasts a wide variety of activities to appeal to almost every taste.

Home in Happy Valley

At a Glance

What to Do

For the Outdoorsperson

For the Arts, History and Music Buff

For the Foodie

For the Whole Family

For the Sports Fan

Resources

Schools

Local Government

Healthcare

Business Development

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