Report: Two Pennsylvania Locations Included in ‘Best College Town Real Estate Markets’ List

Investing in Homes Near College Towns

According to a recent report by Money, some families are investing in properties near their child’s university as a strategy to save on student housing costs while combating the strain of rising tuition fees.

Best College Towns for Real Estate Investment

A separate study provides insight on college towns with promising real estate potential, highlighting two locations in Pennsylvania that rank highly in terms of investment opportunity.

The Study: Identifying the Best College Towns for Real Estate Investment

The moving service provider HireAHelper, started in 2007 with a mission “to create positive moving experiences”, published this study under the title “2023 Study: Which College Towns Have the Best Real Estate Potential.”

Methodology

To identify these towns, the researchers utilized data from the National Center for Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (NCES). The towns included in the study had at least one four-year institution that granted bachelor’s degrees or higher, or had more than half of its student population listed as full-time.

Ranking Criteria

The selected locations were graded based on several key factors such as “Real Estate Availability”, “Home Price 12-Month Change”, and “Rent”, among others, for the final rankings. Data sources included Zillow’s Housing Data and WalletInvestor.

Top-Ranked College Towns

Indiana, Indiana County topped the list of college towns with the best real estate potential, scoring 93 out of 100. The report explains, “Home to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, this town’s home prices average around $160,500 in 2023. Home prices grew 19% in the last 12 months, and are projected to grow by 12% more over the next five years.

Combined with high levels of housing supply and a potentially high rental income, these factors put Indiana, PA in the #1 spot in our ranking.”

Other High-Ranking Locations in Pennsylvania

Aside from Indiana, other towns in the Keystone State also ranked high. Williamsport, Lycoming County made it into the top 10 with the sixth overall ranking. Another Pennsylvania location, Bloomsburg, Columbia County, was highlighted as the third hardest college town to get into based on the “difference between the supply of new homes for sale and the number of homes sold.”