C+

Bellefonte, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 61/100

Population: 26,617 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Bellefonte, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 26,617 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (61/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $76,245, median home value of $272,800, median rent of $1,045 per month, and 28.0% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,406 per month (studio $1,187, 1BR $1,194, 3BR $1,760, 4BR $1,862).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Bellefonte, PA include rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.3% and poverty 7.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$76,245
Median household income
Education D
28.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.6x
Home value $272,800 vs income
Commute B
21 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,406/mo
2BR fair market rent (22% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$76,245
▲ 23% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,332
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Poverty Rate
7.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$272,800
▼ 1% vs national
Median Rent
$1,045/mo
Owner Occupied
70.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,406/mo
▲ 17% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,187
1BR
$1,194
2BR
$1,406
3BR
$1,760
4BR
$1,862

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
28.0%
▼ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
68.1%
Median Age
44.1
Avg. Commute
21 min
▼ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Bellefonte, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 26,617. This area performs well in rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Bellefonte, PA affordable?
Bellefonte, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $76,245. Median home value is $272,800.
What is the cost of living in Bellefonte?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,045/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,406/mo. Median home value $272,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →