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Gettysburg vs Johnstown for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Gettysburg, PA and Johnstown, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Johnstown wins 3–0 across key metrics
Johnstown leads on cash flow (5.77% vs 2.02% cap rate) · Gettysburg leads on population growth
Metric
Gettysburg, PA
Johnstown, PA
Est. Cap Rate
2.02%
5.77%
Median Home Price
$325,000
$115,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,210
$810
1% Rule
0.37%
0.70%
GRM
22.4x
11.8x
Price / Income
6.8x
2.4x
Property Tax Rate
1.38%
1.38%
Vacancy Rate
6%
6%
Population Growth
0.2% / yr
0.2% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.3%
2.3%
Population
50,000
50,000
Median Income
$47,800
$47,800

Gettysburg vs Johnstown: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Johnstown has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.77% compared to Gettysburg's 2.02%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $325,000 in Gettysburg vs $115,000 in Johnstown, while rents come in at $1,210/mo and $810/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Gettysburg is growing faster at 0.2% annually vs Johnstown's 0.2%. Gettysburg leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.38% in Gettysburg vs 1.38% in Johnstown. Vacancy rates of 6% and 6% are mixed — Johnstown has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Johnstown offers a lower entry at $115K vs Gettysburg's $325K — a difference of $210K. With a 20% down payment, that's $23K vs $65K. Johnstown combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Johnstown edges out Gettysburg on most key metrics. With a 5.77% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Gettysburg or Johnstown.

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Gettysburg, PA
2.02% cap rate · $325,000 median · $1,210/mo
Full analysis →
Johnstown, PA
5.77% cap rate · $115,000 median · $810/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gettysburg or Johnstown better for rental investing?
Johnstown wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics. Johnstown's 5.77% cap rate and $115K median price give it the edge overall.
What is the cap rate difference between Gettysburg and Johnstown?
Gettysburg has a 2.02% cap rate vs Johnstown's 5.77% — a difference of 3.75 percentage points. This is a significant gap that meaningfully impacts cash flow. For context, the national average is 3.81%.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Johnstown has lower property taxes at 1.38% vs 1.38%. On a $220K property, that's a difference of approximately $2,898/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Gettysburg is growing at 0.2% annually vs Johnstown's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Gettysburg's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

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