State College and Pinehurst-Southern Pines receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | State College | Pinehurst-Southern Pines | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 158,576 | 104,876 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,291 | $86,080 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,316 | $45,505 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 143/sq mi | 150/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $323,500 | $351,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,207 | $1,254 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.8% | 76.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 5.6% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.2% | 41.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 10.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 481 | 1,043 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 9.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 54.2% | 1.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.3" | 47.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 75 mi | 56 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 28.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.2 | 43.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
State College
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Pinehurst-Southern Pines
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: State College, PA Metro Area · Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology