Centre County Demographics

A map of Centre County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	131,223	129,668	82.8%	82.0%
Asian	9,039	11,373	5.7%	7.2%
Multiracial	6,468	5,419	4.1%	3.4%
Hispanic	5,824	5,651	3.7%	3.6%
Black	5,045	5,306	3.2%	3.4%
Native American/Other	977	755	0.6%	0.5%

Centre County, Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 158,576, a less than 1% change from the 158,172 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 82.8% White, 5.7% Asian, 4.1% Multiracial, 3.7% Hispanic, 3.2% Black, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Centre County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Centre has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Pennsylvania overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Centre County, that probability was 31.9% in 2020 and 30.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Centre County is ranked the 22nd most populous county in Pennsylvania, out of 67 counties. Centre County was ranked the 22nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Centre County's White Population

131,223 residents of Centre County, or 82.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Centre County is higher than in Pennsylvania overall, where 73% of the population is White. Centre County ranks 47th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Centre County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.2%. White residents' share of Centre County's population has increased from 82.0% to 82.8%.

Centre County is less White than neighboring Clinton County (93.6% White), Mifflin County (93.3% White), Huntingdon County (89.3% White), Juniata County (91.9% White), and Cameron County (92.4% White).

Centre County's Black Population

5,045 residents of Centre County, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Centre County is lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 10.3% of the population is Black. Centre County ranks 28th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Centre County's Black population has declined by an estimated 4.9%. Black residents' share of Centre County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.2%.

Centre County is more Black than neighboring Clinton County (1% Black), Mifflin County (1% Black), Juniata County (1% Black), and Cameron County (0.1% Black). Centre County is less Black than neighboring Huntingdon County (4.5% Black).

Centre County's Asian Population

9,039 residents of Centre County, or 5.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Centre County is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 3.8% of the population is Asian. Centre County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Centre County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 20.5%. Asian residents' share of Centre County's population has decreased from 7.2% to 5.7%.

Centre County is more Asian than neighboring Clinton County (0.6% Asian), Mifflin County (0.3% Asian), Huntingdon County (0.5% Asian), Juniata County (0.5% Asian), and Cameron County (0.5% Asian).

Centre County's Hispanic Population

5,824 residents of Centre County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Centre County is slightly lower than in Pennsylvania overall, where 8.7% of the population is Hispanic. Centre County ranks 28th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Centre County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Centre County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.7%.

Centre County is more Hispanic than neighboring Clinton County (1.9% Hispanic), Mifflin County (2.3% Hispanic), Huntingdon County (2.1% Hispanic), and Cameron County (0.7% Hispanic). Centre County is less Hispanic than neighboring Juniata County (4.1% Hispanic).

Centre County's Native American/Other Population

977 residents of Centre County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Centre County is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Centre County ranks 24th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Centre County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 29.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Centre County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Centre County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Clinton County (0.2% Native American/Other), Mifflin County (0.3% Native American/Other), Huntingdon County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Juniata County (0.3% Native American/Other). Centre County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Cameron County (1% Native American/Other).

Centre County's Multiracial Population

6,468 residents of Centre County, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Centre County is comparable to the share in Pennsylvania overall, where 3.6% of the population is Multiracial. Centre County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Centre County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 19.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Centre County's population has increased from 3.4% to 4.1%.

Centre County is more Multiracial than neighboring Clinton County (2.7% Multiracial), Mifflin County (2.9% Multiracial), Huntingdon County (3.4% Multiracial), and Juniata County (2.1% Multiracial). Centre County is less Multiracial than neighboring Cameron County (5.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.