What are the schools like in Bellefonte, PA?

Bellefonte is served primarily by Bellefonte Area SD. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Bellefonte?

The median household income in Bellefonte, PA is $56,008 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.1%.

What is the weather like in Bellefonte, PA?

Bellefonte has an average high temperature of 33.9°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 43.8 inches.

Bellefonte, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bellefonte, PA affordable or expensive?

Bellefonte's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bellefonte is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $231,300 and the median rent is $907 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bellefonte, PA?

Bellefonte has a violent crime rate of 54.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 271.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bellefonte, PA a Good Place to Live?

Bellefonte is a small town of 6,071 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $56,008 and a 1.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Bellefonte stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bellefonte is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bellefonte city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 93.2

Bellefonte's overall cost of living index is 93.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bellefonte costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bellefonte, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$231,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$907	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,008	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bellefonte's violent crime rate is 54.2 per 100,000 residents — 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

54.2 /100k

Property Crime

271.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bellefonte is served primarily by Bellefonte Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bellefonte, PA	National Avg
School District	Bellefonte Area SD	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	41.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bellefonte sees average highs of 33.9°F in January and 81.1°F in July, with 43.5 inches of annual precipitation and 43.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bellefonte, PA
Average High — January	33.9°F
Average High — July	81.1°F
Annual Precipitation	43.5"
Annual Snowfall	43.8"

Demographics

Metric	Bellefonte, PA	National Avg
Population	6,071	—
Median Age	43.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.7%	6.3%
Under 18	15.0%	22.2%
65 and over	20.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Milesburg, PA 2 mi Moose Run, PA 3 mi Pleasant Gap, PA 3 mi Zion, PA 4 mi Peru, PA 4 mi

Bellefonte vs Other Cities

Bellefonte, PA vs Milesburg, PA Bellefonte, PA vs Moose Run, PA Bellefonte, PA vs Pleasant Gap, PA Bellefonte, PA vs Zion, PA Bellefonte, PA vs Peru, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bellefonte, PA affordable or expensive?

Bellefonte's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bellefonte roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $231,300 and median rent is $907/month.

What is the crime rate in Bellefonte, PA?

Bellefonte's violent crime rate is 54.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 271.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bellefonte?

Public schools in Bellefonte are operated by Bellefonte Area SD. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 41.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bellefonte, PA a good place to live?

Bellefonte, PA has a population of 6,071, a median household income of $56,008, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bellefonte?

Bellefonte averages 33.9°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.5 inches with about 43.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Bellefonte?

The population of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is 6,071 with a median age of 43.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bellefonte?

Key numbers for living in Bellefonte: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $231,300, median household income $56,008, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bellefonte side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.