State College

Why State College?

Home to Penn State University, State College offers the energy of a college town with the livability of a connected community. Its walkable downtown is filled with galleries, cafés, performance spaces, and year-round events like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and First Friday celebrations. Surrounded by mountains and trails, residents enjoy abundant opportunities for hiking, cycling, and outdoor recreation.

A spirit of collaboration drives the creative economy here. Artists, designers, and innovators find space to experiment, teach, and launch ideas through a growing network of shared studios, workshops, and cultural programs. This mix of academic excellence, creativity, and community engagement makes State College an inspiring place to live, work, and build.

Reasons To Be Here

Cost of living:

5% lower than

the national average

Median Housing Cost:

$325,000

A Low Cost of Living

3% less than

Pittsburgh, PA

14% less than

Philadelphia, PA

43% less than

Washington, DC

67% less than

New York, NY

Within 500 miles of 50% of the
US population and 20% of
Canada’s population

Pittsburgh, PA – 2h 40m

Philadelphia, PA – 3h 25m

Washington, DC – 3h 50m

New York, NY – 4h 15m

Cleveland, OH – 4h 10m

Columbus, OH – 5h 10m

Niagara Falls, ON – 4h 30m

Toronto, ON – 6h 10m

ACRE State College Partners

The Rivet is a 5,000-square-foot makerspace where creativity meets modern manufacturing. Offering open shop hours, technical classes, and community programming, it empowers people of all ages to learn new skills, prototype ideas, and build businesses—connecting science, technology, and artistry in an accessible and inclusive workshop environment.

3 Dots Downtown is a community arts hub in State College that fuels creative connection, collaboration, and local economic vitality. Through exhibitions, performances, civic programs, and arts incubation, 3 Dots provides space, visibility, and support for artists and changemakers shaping a vibrant, inclusive cultural ecosystem in central Pennsylvania.

Why State College?

A Low Cost of Living

Within 500 miles of 50% of the US population and 20% of Canada’s population

Ann Tarantino Studio

Annie Vidunas Ceramics

ARTery Art Space

BJ Watson Ceramics

Chobi Art

Ciera Made

Elm Rose Designs

Emily Dolbin

Hamilton Outwrite

Kaleidoscope PA

Ms. Margot’s Music

Seams Legit Sewing

Sunny Get Up

The inkSpott

The Weather Vein

Unbounded Abilities

Yoga Lab

Past & Future

Resources for Creatives

Within 500 miles of 50% of the
US population and 20% of
Canada’s population