Cost of Living in Johnstown, PA
Cost of Living in Johnstown, PA has an overall index of 63, 37% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $42,100; typical monthly rent is $616; and median household income is $34,784.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Johnstown
Living in Johnstown
Is Johnstown, PA an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in Johnstown run about 37% below the US average (Cost Index: 63). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $42,100, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $616, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does Johnstown fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $616, while local median household income is $34,784. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Johnstown, PA?+
Pennsylvania uses a flat model; 3.07% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 1.58% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $42,100 gives a planning estimate near $665 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 6.34%.
How much does it cost to rent in Johnstown, PA?+
The typical monthly rent in Johnstown is around $616. That's roughly 54% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $42,100, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Johnstown, PA?+
The typical home value in Johnstown is $42,100. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $204/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 55% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Johnstown?+
Grocery prices in Johnstown are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 101, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 109). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Johnstown, PA like to live in?+
Johnstown is a small town with a population of about 18,245. The median age of residents is 45.4, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 31.24%, above the national average of 12.4%.