How do incomes in central PA compare nationally? These 7 cities have lower median earnings
Residents of several central Pennsylvania areas, including State College, bring in incomes significantly lower than the commonwealth’s median, according to federal data.
The U.S. Census Bureau provides data on median household incomes for cities and towns with populations of at least 5,000 people. The incomes are shown in 2021 dollars and reflect the median household income for the years 2017 to 2021.
State College has a median household income of $43,015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationally, the median household income is $69,021, and Pennsylvania’s median income is $67,587.
Here’s how other central Pennsylvania localities stack up:
Park Forest Village: $69,953
Huntingdon: $53,801
Bellefonte: $52,173
Clearfield: $48,116
Altoona: $46,010
Williamsport: $45,060
Lock Haven: $37,662
Lewistown: $34,423
Current inflation rates
Pennsylvania households must make incomes stretch further now, as inflation has brought prices up 5% from March 2022 to March 2023. Food prices have increased even more, with an 8.4% hike for groceries and an 8.8% increase for restaurant meals.
The price of electricity rose by 10.2% from March 2022 to March 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, and several other essential categories have also seen sharp inflation.
Here’s how more prices have increased over the 12-month period:
Transportation services: 13.9%
Shelter: 8.2%
Medical care services: 1%
New vehicles: 56.1%
Apparel: 3.3%
