Centre County is well-represented in new rankings of Best Places to Live in America and Pennsylvania.
College Township is rated the No. 7 Best Place to Live in America and No. 1 in Pennsylvania, while Ferguson Township is No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 3 in the state in the 2016 rankings from Niche, a website that analyzes public data to provide rankings and ratings of schools and neighborhoods.
The rankings use data from sources such as the U.S. Census, FBI crime statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Center for Disease Control to assess a number of factors, including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities.
College Township received grades of A+ for education, public schools, health and fitness and shortest commute. It received grades of A for nightlife, jobs, and outdoor activities. Cost of living and diversity both got a B-.
Ferguson Township got a grade of A+ for education, public schools, health and fitness, nightlife and shortest commute. It received an A for outdoor activities and A- for diversity, crime and safety and jobs. Cost of living received a C.
Harris Township (No. 9) and Patton Township (No. 11) also represent the Centre Region on Niche’s Best Places to Live in Pennsylvania. State College is No. 50.
