By Chara Fitch
Forbes named State College one of the best small places for business and careers, Livability called it one of the top 100 places to live, and Entrepreneur.com promoted it as one of the best places for entrepreneurs to live and launch–but when it’s time to start a career, young talent like new Penn State graduates often head to jobs in big cities.
For a previous article about attracting talent, Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ Director of Human Resources and Training Kate Alward suggested that when they’re job hunting, new grads might not weigh cost of living differences between locations, or consider that their dollars could go further in Happy Valley. National inflation is driving up the price of just about everything, and while Happy Valley can’t escape inflation, prices are still well below the national average in most categories. According to Salary.com, the cost of living in State College is 7.6% below the national average, 84.6% lower than New York City, and a whopping 94% lower than San Francisco. Home prices are 43.6% below the national median in the U.S.
Remote workers are certainly getting the message.As the cost of living has increased and people grow disenchanted with expensive city living, remote workers are also finding that places like Happy Valley make an appealing home-base.
A manageable price point and growing career opportunities, combined with amenities like ample outdoor recreation and the entertainment resources available at Penn State and other local venues, make Happy Valley a smart option for making the most of your income.
