Real Estate Investing in State College, Pennsylvania (16803)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Centre County • Population: 23,660 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16803 (State College, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in State College, PA (16803)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $426,025
Avg Monthly Rent $1,816
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,224
% Renters 55.8%

Market Analysis: 16803 State College

The 16803 ZIP in State College, PA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $426K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 16803 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $426K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 16803 and stronger State College ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Looking more closely, 23,660 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 16803 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $426K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in State College:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,816/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
State College, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
34 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from State College, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 16803

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+4.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$122,420/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $280,353 $1,580 4.1% +4.7% $140,176
3BR $367,261 $1,980 3.9% +4.3% $122,420
4BR $508,557 $2,090 3.0% +4.5% $127,139
5BR $645,170 +4.8% $129,034

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$443K$394K$345K$296K$247K$198KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,021$1,944$1,867$1,789$1,712$1,634Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16803 Compare?

Metric 16803 State College State College, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $426,025 $282,235 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,816 $1,827 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16803? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

56% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 16803 (State College, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Centre County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Nittany Property Management. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on State College, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
0/2
34 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $426,025
Monthly Rent $1,816
Price-to-Rent 19.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
13.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16803

Population: 23,660

💰 Median Household Income
$65,224
This area
$65,224
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
55.8%
This area
55.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
73.4%
This area
73.4%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.9 years
This area
29.9 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.4%
Asian 14.7%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Black/African American 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
👶 Under 18
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 16803

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$23,986 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Park Forest El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,986 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Radio Park El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
432 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,986 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Park Forest MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
808 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,986 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 9,651 Off-Campus Students
B+
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
50,399 students · 1.9 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
13,564 students · 1.9 mi
C
South Hills School of Business & Technology
242 students · 3.1 mi
C+
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
126 students · 9.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 9,651 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in State College, PA?

State College, PA median home values land near $426K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,816/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the renter demographic in State College, PA?

Tenant quality in State College, PA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $1,816/mo.

Are landlord laws favorable in State College, PA?

State College, PA operates under PA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Should investors consider State College, PA?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in State College, PA reflects its $426K prices and $1,816/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within PA.

Does house hacking work in State College, PA?

House hacking works a challenging in State College, PA. Rents of $1,816/mo against $426K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 16803 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 16803 ranks in State College, PA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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