Very AffordableHigher than AverageGreater Johnstown SD
Johnstownview · Darthgriz98 / CC BY-SA 3.0Us army world war 1 johnstown pennsylvania common history · Unknown / Public domainJohnstown City Hall · TylerTrim / CC BY-SA 4.0Johnstown Pa · Masst1984 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Johnstown is a small city of 18,429 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $33,466
and a 7.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Johnstown stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Johnstown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Johnstown 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: 88.1
Johnstown's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Johnstown costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Johnstown, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$40,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$613
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$33,466
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Johnstown's violent crime rate is 586.5 per 100,000 residents
— 54% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
586.5 /100k
Property Crime
2634.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Johnstown is served primarily by Greater Johnstown SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Johnstown, PA
National Avg
School District
Greater Johnstown SD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Johnstown sees average highs of 33.4°F in January
and 78.6°F in July,
with 45.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 74.1 inches of snow per year.
Johnstown's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Johnstown roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $40,000 and median rent is $613/month.
Johnstown's violent crime rate is 586.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2634.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Johnstown are operated by Greater Johnstown SD.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 13.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Johnstown, PA has a population of 18,429, a median household income of $33,466, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%.
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.
Johnstown averages 33.4°F in January and 78.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.7 inches
with about 74.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Johnstown, PA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 15906, 15902, 15901.
The population of Johnstown, Pennsylvania is 18,429 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Johnstown: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $40,000, median household income $33,466, crime index 143 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Johnstown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
