Home project costs in State College, PA
Every project we cover, priced for the State College metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
State College sits 121st of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 96.8 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 100.7 (56th). The metro has about 68,840 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 24 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 10 below, and 4 are level with it. Tile flooring (+10%), kitchen backsplash (+10%) and paver patio (+6%) sit highest, and kitchen cabinets (−4%), home addition (−3%) and storm door (−2%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (State College, 1 miles away) shows a January average low of 21°F, a July average high of 81°F and 42 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are May through October; for exterior installation, they are March through November.
What local trades earn in State College
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $22.13 | $25.68 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.13 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $22.85 | $26.77 | $34.45 | $29.12 | 0.92 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $24.42 | $29.11 | $37.55 | $28.78 | 1.01 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $22.72 | $27.67 | $30.90 | $30.67 | 0.90 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $26.52 | $29.35 | $34.81 | $27.41 | 1.07 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $22.32 | $27.69 | $29.74 | $30.38 | 0.91 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.65 | n/a |
Concrete & paving in State College
The 7 jobs here average +4% versus the US in State College, from +3% (asphalt driveway) to +6% (paver patio).
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in State College | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,350 | +3% |
| Concrete driveway cost in State College | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,650 | +5% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in State College | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,650 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway cost in State College | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
| Paver patio cost in State College | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| Concrete patio cost in State College | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Stamped concrete cost in State College | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,300 | +4% |
Decks & outdoor in State College
The 2 jobs here average −2% versus the US in State College, from −2% (composite deck) to −1% (wood deck).
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in State College | 300 sq ft | $7,450 – $15,000 | −1% |
| Composite deck cost in State College | 300 sq ft | $11,800 – $23,700 | −2% |
Building & additions in State College
Across these 2 projects, State College averages −2% against national midpoints. Detached garage is highest at level and home addition lowest at −3%.
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in State College | 576 sq ft | $28,900 – $58,100 | level |
| Home addition cost in State College | 300 sq ft | $36,900 – $74,700 | −3% |
Doors & windows in State College
The 5 jobs here average −2% versus the US in State College, from −2% (storm door) to −1% (window replacement).
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in State College | 1 door | $680 – $3,650 | −2% |
| Storm door cost in State College | 1 door | $340 – $930 | −2% |
| Front door cost in State College | 1 door | $480 – $2,500 | −1% |
| Window replacement cost in State College | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,900 | −1% |
| Patio door cost in State College | 1 door | $590 – $5,850 | −2% |
Fencing in State College
The 4 jobs here average +1% versus the US in State College, from +1% (wood fence) to +3% (chain-link fence).
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in State College | 150 linear ft | $3,050 – $7,700 | +1% |
| Vinyl fence cost in State College | 150 linear ft | $4,600 – $9,250 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence cost in State College | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,350 | +3% |
| Aluminum fence cost in State College | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
Roofing & exterior in State College
The 5 jobs here average +1% versus the US in State College, from level (vinyl siding) to +2% (attic insulation).
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in State College | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,200 – $12,700 | +2% |
| Metal roof cost in State College | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,300 – $32,800 | +1% |
| Gutters cost in State College | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding cost in State College | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,400 – $25,200 | level |
| Attic insulation cost in State College | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,100 | +2% |
Kitchen & bath in State College
Across these 5 projects, State College averages +2% against national midpoints. Kitchen backsplash is highest at +10% and kitchen cabinets lowest at −4%.
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in State College | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,400 | −4% |
| Shower pan cost in State College | 1 pan | $990 – $2,900 | +4% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in State College | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Bathroom remodel cost in State College | 45 sq ft | $4,750 – $23,500 | +1% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in State College | 30 sq ft | $340 – $1,650 | +10% |
Landscaping & drainage in State College
Across these 5 projects, State College averages +3% against national midpoints. Retaining wall is highest at +5% and sod installation lowest at level.
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in State College | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Retaining wall cost in State College | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,500 – $14,000 | +5% |
| Sod installation cost in State College | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | level |
| Sprinkler system cost in State College | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,100 | +1% |
| Inground pool cost in State College | 450 sq ft | $37,600 – $117,500 | +4% |
Flooring & interior in State College
The 3 jobs here average +3% versus the US in State College, from −1% (hardwood flooring) to +10% (tile flooring).
| Project | Size | State College range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in State College | 500 sq ft | $5,450 – $12,400 | −1% |
| Laminate flooring cost in State College | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $7,050 | +1% |
| Tile flooring cost in State College | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $10,800 | +10% |
State College against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, State College comes out +2% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 1 prices higher and 4 lower. Hagerstown is the lowest at −6% (95 miles) and York the highest at +2% (90 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PAthis page | 96.8 | 100.7 | +2% | |
| Altoona, PA | 35 miles | 89.5 | 100.7 | −1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 60 miles | 98.7 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 70 miles | 94.6 | 100.7 | −1% |
| York, PA | 90 miles | 96.0 | 100.7 | +2% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 95 miles | 94.2 | 96.4 | −6% |
| Lancaster, PA | 105 miles | 98.3 | 100.7 | level |