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Johnstown vs Lewisburg for Rental Property Investing

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

Johnstown wins 3–0 across key metrics
Johnstown leads on cash flow (5.77% vs 3.14% cap rate)
Metric
Johnstown, PA
Lewisburg, PA
Est. Cap Rate
5.77%
3.14%
Median Home Price
$115,000
$280,000
Median Monthly Rent
$810
$1,320
1% Rule
0.70%
0.47%
GRM
11.8x
17.7x
Price / Income
2.4x
5.9x
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

Johnstown vs Lewisburg: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Johnstown has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.77% compared to Lewisburg's 3.14%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $115,000 in Johnstown vs $280,000 in Lewisburg, while rents come in at $810/mo and $1,320/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

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

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

Entry point: Johnstown offers a lower entry at $115K vs Lewisburg's $280K — a difference of $165K. With a 20% down payment, that's $23K vs $56K. Johnstown combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Johnstown edges out Lewisburg 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 Johnstown or Lewisburg.

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Johnstown, PA
5.77% cap rate · $115,000 median · $810/mo
Full analysis →
Lewisburg, PA
3.14% cap rate · $280,000 median · $1,320/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johnstown or Lewisburg better for rental investing?
Johnstown wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Johnstown's 5.77% cap rate and $115K median price offer both higher returns and a lower entry point.
What is the cap rate difference between Johnstown and Lewisburg?
Johnstown has a 5.77% cap rate vs Lewisburg's 3.14% — a difference of 2.63 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?
Lewisburg has lower property taxes at 1.38% vs 1.38%. On a $198K property, that's a difference of approximately $2,277/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Johnstown is growing at 0.2% annually vs Lewisburg's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Johnstown's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

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