The 15905 zip code in Johnstown, Pennsylvania tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in the Northeast.
We looked at 1715 zip codes in the region, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in the Northeast
The Northeast includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnstown, PA 🥇 | 100.0 | $122,763 | $788 |
| 2 | Jeannette, PA🥈 | 93.5 | $156,973 | $1,180 |
| 3 | Clairton, PA 🥉 | 92.7 | $146,328 | $1,297 |
| 4 | Charleroi, PA | 91.3 | $94,951 | $1,629 |
| 5 | Clearfield, PA | 91.2 | $118,023 | $1,629 |
| 6 | Washington, PA | 90.5 | $217,154 | $1,064 |
| 7 | Windber, PA | 90.4 | $109,692 | $1,629 |
| 8 | New Kensington, PA | 90.3 | $160,576 | $925 |
| 9 | Greensburg, PA | 90.2 | $222,440 | $989 |
| 10 | Corning, NY | 85.2 | $164,734 | $1,500 |
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1. Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Here's why the 15905 zip code in Johnstown is the region's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Johnstown
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $122,763[1] | No. 24 | -$369,171.10 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.8 | No. 6 | -3.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 16.1%[2] | No. 23 | -33.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -4.3%[3] | No. 3 | -5.8% |
| Rental costs | $788[4] | No. 1 | -$1,439 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.18% | No. 2 | -1.3% |
| Median household income | $66,843[5] | No. 266 | -$21,723 |
| Property taxes | $2,316[6] | No. 87 | -$3,600 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[7] | No. 53 | -$0.07 |
Johnstown's 15905 zip code is the cheapest place to live in the Northeast, leading the 1715 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $122,763, making it the 24th-cheapest housing market in the region. Forecasts project a -4.3% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $788 per month, which is the 2nd-cheapest amount in the Northeast.
The median property tax for homeowners in Johnstown is $2,316 per household, the No. 87 ranked market in the Northeast.
Residents pay $0.11 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 53 among the region's markets.
2. Jeannette, Pennsylvania
The 15644 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in the Northeast.
🔎 Key data about Jeannette
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 93.5 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $156,973[8] | No. 66 | -$334,960.89 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.6 | No. 42 | -3.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 35.4%[9] | No. 127 | -14.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.9%[10] | No. 50 | -2.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,180[11] | No. 25 | -$1,046 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.92% | No. 85 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $61,438[12] | No. 305 | -$27,128 |
| Property taxes | $2,155[13] | No. 78 | -$3,761 |
| Energy costs | $0.09 kWh[14] | No. 1 | -$0.09 |
Jeannette's 15644 zip code has a median home value of $156,973, which is the 50th-cheapest housing market in the Northeast. You can rent for an average of $1,180 per month. That's the 25th-cheapest price in the region.
The average household income in the zip code is $61,438, which ranks 305th-highest in the Northeast.
Homeowners in Jeannette pay a median property tax of $2,155 per year, making it the 78th-most affordable market in the region.
Jeannette ranks No. 1 among the region's energy markets. You'll pay $0.09 per kWh of electricity.
3. Clairton, Pennsylvania
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in the Northeast is Clairton's 15025 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Clairton
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 92.7 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $146,328[15] | No. 52 | -$345,606.49 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.8 | No. 7 | -3.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 38.7%[16] | No. 147 | -10.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.1%[17] | No. 24 | -2.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,297[18] | No. 46 | -$929 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.63% | No. 39 | -0.9% |
| Median household income | $79,434[19] | No. 181 | -$9,132 |
| Property taxes | $3,809[20] | No. 238 | -$2,107 |
| Energy costs | $0.12 kWh[21] | No. 319 | -$0.06 |
The No. 52 cheapest housing market in the Northeast is Clairton's 15025 zip code, with a median home value of $146,328. Rents in the market average $1,297 per month, making it the 46th-most affordable rental market in the region.
The median property tax for households in Clairton is $3,809, which makes it the 238th-cheapest place in the Northeast. Clairton ranks No. 319 among the region's markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.12 per kWh of electricity.
4. Charleroi, Pennsylvania
The 15022 zip code in Charleroi comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in the Northeast.
🔎 Key data about Charleroi
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 91.3 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $94,951[22] | No. 9 | -$396,983.12 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.7 | No. 4 | -3.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 40.8%[23] | No. 160 | -8.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.1%[24] | No. 24 | -2.6% |
| Rental costs | $1,629[25] | No. 127 | -$597 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.06% | No. 109 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $54,313[26] | No. 351 | -$34,253 |
| Property taxes | $1,497[27] | No. 28 | -$4,419 |
| Energy costs | $0.09 kWh[28] | No. 1 | -$0.09 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing market in the Northeast is Charleroi's 15022 zip code, where the median home value is $94,951. Renters here pay an average of $1,629 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Charleroi ranks 1st among the region's markets. Residents pay $0.09 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $1,497, which makes it the 28th-cheapest market in the Northeast.
5. Clearfield, Pennsylvania
The 16830 zip code in Clearfield ranks No. 5 among the region's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Clearfield
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 91.2 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $118,023[29] | No. 20 | -$373,911.38 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.2 | No. 16 | -3.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 9.0%[30] | No. 13 | -40.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.7%[31] | No. 4 | -5.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,629[32] | No. 127 | -$597 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.06% | No. 109 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $52,853[33] | No. 366 | -$35,713 |
| Property taxes | $1,705[34] | No. 41 | -$4,211 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[35] | No. 53 | -$0.07 |
Clearfield's 16830 zip code has a median home value of $118,023, the 20th-cheapest market in the region. Forecasts project a -3.7% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Clearfield is $1,705. It's the 41st-cheapest market by tax rate in the Northeast.
6. Washington, Pennsylvania
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in the Northeast is the 15301 zip code in Washington.
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🔎 Key data about Washington
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 90.5 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $217,154[36] | No. 140 | -$274,780.77 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.153827007 | No. 127 | -2.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.2661420626[37] | No. 55 | -22.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.8%[38] | No. 77 | -2.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,064[39] | No. 11 | -$1,162 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.55% | No. 25 | -1.0% |
| Median household income | 68854[40] | No. 249 | -$19,712 |
| Property taxes | $2,438[41] | No. 108 | -$3,478 |
| Energy costs | 0.08710386736 kWh[42] | No. 1 | -$0.09 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Washington's 15301 zip code, which has the 140th-cheapest home values in the Northeast. The median home value is $217,154. Rents average $1,064 per month, making it the 11th-most affordable rental market in the region.
Residents pay 0.08710386736 per kWh of electricity. It's the 1st-cheapest energy market.
7. Windber, Pennsylvania
Windber's 15963 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in the Northeast.
🔎 Key data about Windber
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 90.4 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $109,692[43] | No. 15 | -$382,242.26 |
| Home affordability ratio | 1.974051434 | No. 9 | -3.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.2437285808[44] | No. 48 | -25.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -2.7%[45] | No. 8 | -4.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,629[46] | No. 127 | -$597 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.06% | No. 109 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | 55567[47] | No. 337 | -$32,999 |
| Property taxes | $1,323[48] | No. 15 | -$4,593 |
| Energy costs | 0.1247519778 kWh[49] | No. 351 | -$0.05 |
You'll find the 15th-cheapest home values in the Northeast in Windber's 15963 zip code. The median value: $109,692. Renters in Windber pay an average of $1,629 per month.
Homeowners in Windber pay a median property tax of $1,323 per year, which is the region's 15th-most affordable market.
The average household income is 55567, which ranks 337th-highest in the Northeast.
8. New Kensington, Pennsylvania
The 8th-cheapest place to live in the Northeast is New Kensington's 15068 zip code.
🔎 Key data about New Kensington
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 90.3 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $160,576[50] | No. 70 | -$331,358.45 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.637147778 | No. 50 | -2.9 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4940591803[51] | No. 287 | 0.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.9%[52] | No. 50 | -2.4% |
| Rental costs | $925[53] | No. 5 | -$1,301 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.52% | No. 19 | -1.0% |
| Median household income | 60890[54] | No. 309 | -$27,676 |
| Property taxes | $2,875[55] | No. 159 | -$3,041 |
| Energy costs | 0.1159442798 kWh[56] | No. 319 | -$0.06 |
The 70th-cheapest housing market in the Northeast is New Kensington's 15068 zip code, with a median home value of $160,576. Renters pay an average of $925 per month, the No. 5 rental market in the region.
The median property tax for households in New Kensington is $2,875, which makes it the 159th-cheapest place in the Northeast. The average household income of 60890 ranks 309th.
9. Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg's 15601 zip code sneaks into the top ten of the region's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Greensburg
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 90.2 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $222,440[57] | No. 144 | -$269,494.36 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.127056261 | No. 119 | -2.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.321826202[58] | No. 92 | -17.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.8%[59] | No. 77 | -2.3% |
| Rental costs | $989[60] | No. 8 | -$1,237 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.39% | No. 6 | -1.1% |
| Median household income | 71134[61] | No. 229 | -$17,432 |
| Property taxes | $2,737[62] | No. 144 | -$3,179 |
| Energy costs | 0.08710386736 kWh[63] | No. 1 | -$0.09 |
The 144th-cheapest housing market in the Northeast is Greensburg's 15601 zip code, where the median home value is $222,440. Renters pay an average of $989 per month. It's the region's 8th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $2,737, which makes it the 144th-cheapest property tax rate in the Northeast.
10. Corning, New York
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in the Northeast goes to the 14830 zip code in Corning.
🔎 Key data about Corning
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1715 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 85.2 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $164,734[64] | No. 39 | -$327,200.47 |
| Home affordability ratio | 2.216727759 | No. 9 | -3.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.351709115[65] | No. 209 | -14.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.2%[66] | No. 312 | -1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,500[67] | No. 43 | -$726 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.02% | No. 35 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | 74314[68] | No. 332 | -$14,252 |
| Property taxes | $4,254[69] | No. 105 | -$1,662 |
| Energy costs | 0.1144790287 kWh[70] | No. 5 | -$0.06 |
The 39th-most affordable housing market in the Northeast is Corning's 14830 zip code. The median home value is $164,734. Rent in the market costs $1,500 per month on average, making it the 43rd-most affordable rental market in the Northeast.
The median property tax for households in Corning is $4,254, which is the 105th-cheapest property tax rate in the region.
Corning ranks No. 5 among Northeast markets by energy costs, with households paying 0.1144790287 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in the Northeast
We evaluated 1715 zip codes in the Northeast with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a region by zip code.
Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
Methodology: What is an Affordability Score?
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in the Northeast, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 23.8% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 23.8% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 11.9% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 4.8% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 11.9% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the regional average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the regional average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to energy costs.
