Housing
Finding a place to live
Rent is highest right downtown and gets cheaper further out. If you will not have a car at first, being near a CATA bus stop matters more than almost anything else.
Where to search
- Penn State Off-Campus Student Support property searchFor students specifically. Listings are vetted for the university.
- StateCollege.com classifieds — apartments & real estateLocal listings, often from smaller landlords.
- Craigslist Centre County — housingWhole apartments and houses. Be careful with deposits.
- Craigslist Centre County — rooms & sharesUseful if you are arriving alone and want to keep costs low.
- "Home in State College" Facebook groupSublets and rentals passed between residents.
- State College, PA Apartments, Subleases, Housing (Facebook)One of the busiest local rental and sublease groups.
- Penn State Housing Sublets & Roommates (Facebook)Good for finding a roommate or taking over a lease mid-year.
- State College Classifieds (Facebook)Rooms, furniture, and everything else, posted by neighbours.
- State College Community Land TrustFor first-time buyers, if you are staying long term.
Furnishing your home cheaply
Almost every rental here comes empty. The Borough points newcomers to these nonprofits for affordable furniture, kitchen things, and winter clothes.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStoreDonated furniture and household goods at low prices.
- Goodwill424 Westerly Pkwy. Furniture, clothes, and kitchen items. (814) 237-8006.
- CentrePeaceRefurbished furniture, priced for families starting over.
- St. Vincent de Paul Thrift StoreSecond-hand furniture and clothing.
- Lion SurplusPenn State's surplus store — desks, chairs, and electronics.
- State College Online Yard Sale (Facebook)Second-hand furniture and household items from neighbours.
- State College Sell or Swap (Facebook)Buy, sell, or swap almost anything locally.
- Upcycle & Buy Nothing State College (Facebook)Free items given away by residents — very useful in your first weeks.
- Borough affordable housing programsCommunity development and affordable housing information from the Borough.
Neighborhoods
These are the Borough's own neighborhood names — you will see them in listings. Tap any name to see exactly where it sits on the map.
- College Heights
- Highlands
- Vallamont
- Toftrees
- Nittany Hills / Penfield
- State College South
- Tusseyview
- Orchard Park
- Greentree
- Holmes-Foster
- West End
Neighborhood map
Click a pin to see the neighborhood name
We would rather have real lived-in advice here than a guess. If you live in one of these neighborhoods and can speak to the walkability, whether it leans more families or students, or the bus situation, tell us and we’ll add it.
Before you sign
Read this list once before you send anyone money. Almost every housing problem we are asked to help with in August comes from skipping one of these steps.
- Never pay for a place nobody you trust has seen. Scam listings copy real photos and ask for a deposit by wire, Zelle, or gift card. If you have no one here yet, ask us and a community member will go and look at it for you, and send you a video.
- Expect a twelve-month lease. Leases here usually start in August and run a full year. Breaking one early is expensive — ask in writing what the penalty is, and whether you may sublet.
- Ask exactly what is included. Heat, water, sewer, electricity, internet, and trash are sometimes separate. Winter heating is a real monthly cost — ask the landlord for the last twelve months of average utility bills for that unit.
- Check the deposit rules. Most landlords ask for the first month plus a security deposit, and many require proof of income or a US guarantor. If you have neither, ask whether they accept a larger deposit instead — many do.
- Ask about parking. Parking is often extra, limited, or permit-only, and Borough winter snow rules mean you may have to move your car overnight.
- Time the walk to the bus stop yourself. Check which CATA route serves it, how late it runs, and whether it runs at weekends. A cheap apartment on no bus route is not cheap.
- Ask about laundry, pets, and guests. In-unit laundry, a shared basement machine, or a laundromat drive makes a real difference with a family.
- Photograph everything on move-in day. Every mark on walls, floors, counters, and appliances, with the date visible. Send the landlord a written move-in condition list within the first week. This is what protects your deposit when you leave.
- Keep everything in writing. Get promises about repairs, furniture, or start dates in email or text, not only in conversation. Save a copy of the signed lease somewhere you can reach it.
- Get a free read before you sign. Penn State students can have a lease reviewed at no cost by Student Legal Services, and Off-Campus Student Support answers landlord and roommate questions. If you are not a student, ask us and we will sit with you.