thinking of buying in Johnstown? (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg: real estate, apartment, houses) - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

arosilus · 07-25-2021, 12:21 AM

My husband and I are located in Harrisburg. We were wondering how come the houses are so cheap in Johnstown looking to maybe buy but its just shocking to see pricing there being so low. Would anyone care to explain what's going on in that sector of the state. What would be the major city close to there for employment I'm sure Pittsburgh isn't it. We both have good jobs but live in a apartment which is outrageous on this side of the state.

North Beach Person · 07-25-2021, 04:33 AM

Houses are cheap in Johnstown because the city, and really the entire area, has been in decline for the last forty years. It never recovered from the recessions of the late 1970s into the 80s when entire industries shut down. The poverty rate is currently 40% and median household income is $24,500.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...ania/PST045219

The County in which it's located, Cambria, is in better shape overall:

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...ania/PST045219

Jbraybarten65 · 07-25-2021, 06:06 AM

You might also try the PA forum in case others outside of Pgh have thoughts or info.

RetireinPA · 07-25-2021, 02:00 PM

I lived in j town back in college - but that was mid 80s. my brother STILL lives there and at a gathering yesterday, he and his neighbor took pains to tell us the 1000 reasons it sucks...there is just no opportunity, no jobs, no industry, lotsa drugs, lotsa questionable behaviours. get a lot for your money....head up to altoona, north of it near say bellwood - you will like

USC1986 · 07-25-2021, 06:29 PM

Had an important client , a major commercial real estate developer, in Johnstown back in the 80's & 90's.
Much of the city was depressed back then and I suspect it hasn't gotten any better; wasn't Johnstown rated as the poorest small city in Penna. recently?
The Westmont area had some nice homes, but I haven't been there lately to determine if that is still true. I believe it's also in another school district; you want to avoid the Johnstown SD at all costs.
As others have stated, the major industries are gone, and they are not coming back.
Also, the city is really rather isolated and the road connections are not great.
Yet another sad case of a once thriving industrial city fallen upon hard times.

thedirtypirate · 07-26-2021, 06:53 AM

Johnstown did not start to decline 40 years ago, it's population peaked over 100 years ago in the 1920 census and has been losing people ever since. Johnstown has always had the stigma of 'the place where the dam broke'. Good reason too, given 2,200+ people passed away from the flood and fires started from it. To put that in perspective, 2,900+ lives were lost on 9/11 and 2,400+ lives were lost during Pearl Harbor. The Johnstown Flood was one of the worst disasters in the history of the United States. A very famous documentary was made in 1989 to mark the 100 year anniversary. It won the Academy award for Best Documentary that year and is now available to watch for free on Youtube. If you like history, it is absolutely worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=melEHAwHisE

RetireinPA · 07-26-2021, 07:34 AM

while that is true, j town THEN was not jtown in say the 50s or 60s. the flood in the mid 70s - 76? 77? was the death knell. Property values down low - like moxham for example - went to zero, the mills all pulled main operations. that was the 'singularity' that brought about johnstown as it is today. at that point no biz was willing to invest IN johnstown, only AROUND johnstown, but as they say, there is no way to get there from here so it rotted like an apple tree - inside out.

the only bright side is at the galleria the last surviving italian oven restaurant is there and the best linguine bolognese I have ever eaten.....

svband76 · 07-26-2021, 07:53 AM

I think Johnstown is a beautiful place in it's own way. There's beauty in what is currently left from the heydays. And every town has it druggies. Here's a nice little place on some acreage. https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...5_M49588-51591

villageidiot1 · 07-26-2021, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetireinPA

the only bright side is at the galleria the last surviving italian oven restaurant is there and the best linguine bolognese I have ever eaten.....

There are actually two other surviving Italian Ovens in Somerset and Connellsville.

svband76 · 07-26-2021, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by villageidiot1

There are actually two other surviving Italian Ovens in Somerset and Connellsville.

Probably one of the best chain restaurants this area ever had. If I recall the guy who created Gullifty's (Jim Frey?) had his hands in a few of the Pittsburgh area places..