City Comparison
State College vs Hazleton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Hazleton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
State College
Hazleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hazleton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
3% lower than in State College.
Housing costs are a major driver: State College's average rent is
37% higher than Hazleton's.
| Metric | State College | Hazleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,850 | $1,350 | +37% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $180 | $349 | -48% |
| Transport | $120 | $360 | -67% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $293 | -15% |
| Monthly Total | $2,850 | $2,752 | +4% |
| Cost Index | 119 | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
State College offers 31% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, State College delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in State College is estimated at
$55,000 vs $45,000 in Hazleton.
| Metric | State College | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $49,688 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 54,622 idx | 49,196 idx |
| Household Income | $45,424 | $46,177 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
State College runs warmer on average — a 50.4°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, State College comes out ahead with 244 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — State College sees 18.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | State College | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.40°F | °F |
| Summer High | 81.70°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 19.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 36.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 18.60 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 244 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
State College has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Hazleton.
State College scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, State College leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | State College | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 16 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
State College is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Hazleton.
From a growth perspective, Hazleton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, State College has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | State College | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,050 | 32,657 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.21% | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 21.2 | 37.5 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 7.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
State College
Advantages
High walkability score, with many errands accomplishable on foot in the downtown area.
Strong educational environment due to the presence of Pennsylvania State University.
Vibrant cultural scene with numerous festivals, arts events, and entertainment venues.
Lower than national average violent crime rate, contributing to a generally safe environment.
Affordable home care options compared to the state average.
Drawbacks
Cost of living is higher than the national average, primarily driven by housing costs.
The median age in the borough is very low (21.2), indicating a significant student population which may influence the city's overall character and services.
While the borough is walkable, surrounding areas may have higher car dependency.
Crime rate is higher than the Pennsylvania state average, though lower than the national average for some metrics.
Median household income in the borough is significantly lower than the national average.
Hazleton
Advantages
Median home sale price increased by 13.3% year-over-year as of June 2026, indicating a growing housing market.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, making it more affordable to live.
Violent crime rates are below the U.S. average, contributing to a safer community environment.
The city has a positive job growth rate of 2.56% from June 2025 to June 2026.
Pennsylvania ranks among the top states for new business survival, suggesting a supportive entrepreneurial climate.
Drawbacks
Unemployment rate in Hazleton was 7.40% in June 2026, higher than the national average.
Utility prices are estimated to be 15% higher than the national average.
Transportation expenses are 13% higher than the national average, and car dependency is high.
A significant portion of Hazleton families (25.0%) live in poverty.
Conflicting data on cost of living index makes overall affordability assessment challenging.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
State College
#576Pennsylvania, USA
46.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,850
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
119
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
244/yr
Avg Temp
50.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.21%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
86
Business
68
Hazleton
#516Pennsylvania, USA
51.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$49,688
Cost Index
101
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
7.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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