By Greg Woodman
Since 1990, Centre County’s 65+ population has surged by more than 90%, outpacing nearly every other age bracket. From 2010 to 2020 alone, that group grew by 34.2%, while the under-18 population grew just 2%. HappyValley isn’t just getting “more mature,” it’s getting smarter, more engaged, and more magnetic.
Yes, 5.1 million annual visitors, but here’s the real headline: more alumni are staying. They’re buying homes, not just renting hotel rooms. Penn Staters are checking in and staying forever.
This influx brings a jolt of energy, purpose, and contribution, because at the core, it’s a brain gain. For today’s seniors, retirement isn’t only about slowing down. It’s also about continuous learning, staying active and enjoying new adventures that are easy to do here.
In 2015, Forbes named State College one of the Top 25 Places to Retire in the United States—a recognition that might surprise those outside Central Pennsylvania, but not those already living the here.
Because what better place to spend your third act than in a community you’ve always loved visiting? Here, the things that make life meaningful—connection, creativity, learning, legacy—aren’t retirement perks. They’re just… life.
The Barbell Boom: Youth + Wisdom
Centre County is experiencing a “barbell” effect—an unusually strong concentration of the young and the seasoned. With 50,000 Penn State students and a surging 65+ community, it’s a rare and vibrant mix.
This phenomenon is part of a national trend favoring college towns—where quality of life, health care, walkability, and lifelong learning intersect. While traditional retirement hotspots face heat, hurricanes, and healthcare strain, college towns like Happy Valley are thriving.
Living in the Middle of a Postcard
“Living in Happy Valley is like waking up in the middle of a postcard,” says Jeff Hyde, who moved here with his wife Sharon after years away. “We were drawn back by the energy, the beauty, and the people. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s a quality of life that’s hard to find anywhere else.”
Bill Kidd, a former corporate CEO, echoes that: “I didn’t come here to slow down. I came here to plug in. I mentor students, serve on nonprofit boards, and still find time to hike Mount Nittany. There’s something about this place—it keeps you engaged.”
Hyde adds: “We plan to leave here feet first. We live three blocks from my college dorm and wouldn’t have it any other way. It makes you feel alive.”
Intergenerational Energy
This rare blend of youthful energy and seasoned wisdom is a big part of what sets Happy Valley apart. With over 50,000 Penn State students roaming sidewalks and packing the Jordan Center and Beaver stadium, there’s a vitality here that makes you feel young and young at heart. The confidence, curiosity, and joy exhibited by these demographics are contagious. A 70-year-old Austin transplant puts it this way: “I’m not ready for the ‘home.’ I’m ready for more discovery. I live above the Hyatt in the Fraser Center, walk to the Growing Tree and Schlow Library, Uber to Discovery Space with my grandkids. They love visiting me. Students stop to pet my dog. I walk to Eisenhower and Pattee Library. I did not go to Penn State, but my children did”.
My Dad gave me this advice: If you’re going to retire, pick a spot with a hook—a lake house, a beach, a pool—something that makes it a place your kids and grandkids want to visit. Happy Valley checks that box. Big time.
A Year-Round Festival
With Big Ten sports, family-friendly events, live music venues everywhere, and outdoor adventures from Spruce Creek to Woodward, this is not a sleepy town. It’s a year-round festival—and your family and now their friends and your friends always lock in key weekends.
Economic and Lifestyle Momentum
More retirees are leaving high-cost metro areas finding that Happy Valley offers condominium living, hospital access, a strong arts scene, and natural beauty—without the Florida price tag. Developments like the Nittany Residence Club, Fraser Centre and the new Bellefonte waterfront condominiums are proof the market is responding. And the Retirement Villages locally have all been expanding over the last decade with long waiting lines.
“We’re seeing real interest in intergenerational living,” says a spokesperson for The Nittany Residence Club. “It’s not just retirees asking what’s next—it’s their adult children encouraging the ‘Happy Life.’”
Even better, it’s not just a lifestyle trend—it’s an economic driver. These new residents bring time, talent, and treasure:
- Volunteering at nonprofits
- Serving on local boards
- Donating to the arts and our cultural nonprofits.
- Mentoring students and launching venture.
They’re powering a culture of purpose and connection.
Alumni Boomerangs: A Growth Engine
A community-led survey of Penn State and State College Area High School alumni aged 25–45—who currently live outside Centre County—revealed that about 20% would consider moving back within five years. That’s nearly 17,000 alumni, not counting spouses or kids. Even a 5% return rate would mean 850 new households and over 2,500 new residents.
The Happy Life: With Substance
The ecosystem here is strong, which is another big part of the appeal.
- Three award-winning hospitals
- Arts and entertainment
- Cuisine and culture
- Year-round outdoor adventure
- A constellation of towns—Bellefonte, Howard, Boalsburg, Millheim, Spruce Creek, Pine Grove Mills, Centre Hall, Hublersburg, and more—each a destination of its own, with signature coffee shops, local breweries, and memorable restaurants that keep friends and family coming back.
There are quiet days when students are away, and electric ones when they return.
Alumni have stayed connected, parents have discovered something magical, and newcomers have found something rare that allows them to think less about “how many years they have left” but how they are going to fully live them.
In this regard, Happy Valley delivers. Smart retirees are no longer chasing sunshine. They’re investing in community, vitality, and meaning.
So, if you want to debate about the best place to retire, we’re ready.
Just know:
We’re not retiring.
We’re just getting started.
Read full story on Why Sharon and Jeff Hyde retired to HappyValley.
And why Bill Kidd came back, too.
One Response
Plus the Grange Fair!!! Retirees are definitely not slowing down. The energy of the gray generation is infectious and a huge benefit to the community.
Is Happy Valley the Villages of the Northeast??