Welcome to another Redwood Prime Realty Wisdom Wednesday! Today, we’re talking about an exciting national study that highlights something we’ve known for a long time here in Central Pennsylvania — this region is one of the best places in the country when it comes to affordable living.
A recent article from Realtor.com released a study ranking the most and least affordable places to live in the United States. On the “least affordable” side, the list included cities you’d probably expect — places like New York City, San Diego, and Miami, where housing costs are extremely high compared to local incomes.
But the most exciting part for us? Two nearby Pennsylvania cities made the list of the most affordable places to live in America.
● Johnstown ranked #1
● Altoona ranked #8
That’s huge news for our region.
Affordable Doesn’t Mean Cheap
One important distinction the study made is the difference between “cheap” housing and “affordable” housing.
Cheap housing can exist anywhere — often in areas where demand is low and people don’t necessarily want to live. You can find rundown homes in struggling areas across the country for next to nothing. Affordable housing is different.
Affordability measures how far the average person’s income stretches compared to the average cost of housing in that area. In other words, it’s about value. It’s about being able to own a home, build a life, and still have room in your budget to enjoy living.
According to the study, Johnstown is the best place in America for stretching your dollar when it comes to housing, and Altoona is right there in the top ten.
Why This Matters
This recognition comes at a really exciting time for Central Pennsylvania.
There’s momentum building across the region:
- New infrastructure investments
- Trail system expansion projects
- Downtown revitalization efforts
- Growing local development
- Increased interest in small-city living
Projects like those connected to First Frontier and other community investments are helping make this area even more attractive for families, young professionals, and investors alike.
When you combine affordability with growth and quality of life, it creates opportunity.
A Great Time to Invest in Central Pennsylvania
Being ranked as one of the most affordable places to live in the country isn’t just a fun headline — it’s a sign of potential.
As more people discover the value of communities like Altoona and Johnstown, demand and property values have room to grow. Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, invest in rental properties, or simply put down roots in a community with momentum, now is an exciting time to be here.
There are only seven places in the entire country ranked more affordable than Altoona. That’s something worth celebrating.
How cool is that?
Have a great Wisdom Wednesday from all of us at Redwood Prime Realty
