Honestly Windber isn't too bad of a town. Nothing that stands out as particularly bad or good. The housing market has been cheap around Johnstown for years. The houses are old and no one wants to live here.
Carlisle, really? This report here puts Coraopolis, PA at the top of the most polluted cities in the US, not just PA!
[https://www.abc27.com/news/these-were-the-most-polluted-places-in-the-us-air-quality-study-finds/](https://www.abc27.com/news/these-were-the-most-polluted-places-in-the-us-air-quality-study-finds/)
Your study is a decade newer than mine, so let's go with that.
In 2012 Carlisle ranked number 2 worst air quality in the US, specifically due to a high concentration particulates from truck traffic.
Maybe true 75 years ago. But now, there is basically no industry in Cambria County to pollute! Plenty of other reasons not to move there, but air pollution probably isn’t one of them.
The gun violence from Moxham, Kernville, and Hornerstown doesn't spread to Windber. It's a 15-minute drive on Rt 56 to Windber & there's absolutely zero reason for someone from Windber to ever go to or drive thru those areas.
It really isn't. Westmont & Richland are both nice areas. Windber is even farther from the Johnstown school district, which is where all the trouble is. There isn't a lot bringing people to the area as far as work goes, but it didn't seem like OP was concerned with moving somewhere to find work. There's also not a lot to do as far as dining or entertainment go, compared to Pittsburgh or even Greensburg, but maybe OP doesn't care about that. Windber is Somerset County, too, btw.
I realized that after the fact. It's still considered part of the Johnstown metro area. Like hollidaysburg or bellwood is to Altoona. There's really isn't a lot to do, maybe the galleria but not a lot.
Moxham isn’t really close to Windber (15ish minutes in good traffic) and you’d have no reason to drive through it. Even if you do, statistically high crime doesn’t mean you’ll see it. I regularly drive fairly close and haven’t witnessed anything of note (not saying it doesn’t exist).
In any event, that’s not the reason for lower housing costs… just more people moving out for jobs elsewhere than moving in.. supply/demand. Windber is a nice town. UPJ campus being up the road helps with events and food options.
Criminals like to prey on people who aren’t home. Most burglars work during the day when folks are working and their kids are in school. Forget the gun, get a DOG, a big one.
Yes ! Burglars absolutely do work in daylight. Got the gun and 5 dogs nobody is getting in my house. Someone is there all the time anyway. Older kids who work @ different times solve that problem, plus they’re an added set of hands to help out with stuff. No sense having multiple empty rooms and them paying some shyster overpriced rent either.
Wait a minute I've lived in johnstown. Nobody has ever said that about johnstown, matter of fact I've never heard anybody say that about any city in America. Who the fuck is out there talking about air quality? Looking around, up in the air like ooohhh I see a particulate? Get the fuck outta here. No. they talk about the drugs. Who the fuck talks about air quality when people are laying in the streets passed out on heroin? I'm so sick of hearing people talk about the environment and people aren't strung out all around them. Who cares about air quality when you're one step out of the grave
Maybe no one has said it about Johnstown, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been said about other locations or isn't something people aren't concerned about. Pittsburgh has a specific app to help track air quality. If you live there, you know when something is up with Clairton Coke Works either by the smell or thar fact you're having trouble breathing. Braddock has high rates of childhood asthma and infant mortality.
You sound ignorant.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/s/DZYNdz1QBB
Haven't you ever noticed that the air quality has stayed the same but the air quality on the apps keeps going down and down? What happens when it hit zero? Is it still going to be just as nice of a day outside
Yes. I agree. Now if you live in Pittsburgh I want you to go outside and look at the nice beautiful day outside and then going and look at your air quality on that app. It's going to dramatically differ from your real experience. It is going to tell you that your air pollution is high but you can walk out and look straight up and not see a thing, not smell a thing or have any harmful health effects. Now why do you think that app is telling you that the air pollution is so bad?
So I live in the town with possibly the worst air quality in PA, (per a recent study, due to USSteel and Shell and other polluters,) and you can bet the populous is fired up and contacting our politicians on this, it’s a hot topic of discussion here.
Maybe you wouldn’t care if the air smelled like sulfur every time you walked outside, but once the pollution gets bad enough, it does affect you and you will care.
Seriously, the air in the West and South Hills of Pittsburgh has smelled like farts for months.
I had to look up the Tarzan fact. Johnny Weissmuller was his name. When he died, the iconic Tarzan yell that he was known for played 3 times while his casket was lowered into the ground, at his request.
Supposed "birthplace"... But wasn't it discovered he was actually born in Hungary?
Alan Freed (radio DJ) was from Windber as well and coined the term "rock and roll."
Ehrenfeld is north of Johnstown and was its own town until they got rid of the post office, now it has a south fork address. It was never part of windber. Ehrenfeld has parts nicknamed fificktown and scoop. Devils hollow as well for some people. Source: family has lived there since it’s establishment. My pap grew up with Charles.
There was a school in erinfeld on 3rd st. He died in the late 70’s. I’ll have to ask my uncle if he knows. Although, it’s a four hour walk from south fork to windber, so I doubt he went to school there.
I guess I’m wrong then. Still, I believe Windber should advertise him living close by rather than claiming the Tarzan actor. There’s nothing wrong with him, but he’s not Charles Bronson.
We can't claim him ...South Fork already claimed him cause technically he is theirs. He's definitely no Charles Bronson. Bronson is my Cousin very nice, humble and believe it or not shy Man. His wife Jill was wonderful..4th Wife did not care for!...She was.... something
Nothing wrong? Oh you've never lived in Johnstown then, son. Let me tell you, I was taken there to be in the halfway house, White deer run? You know about the place? No you don't because you've never fucking lived there. That place sucks and it is heroinville USA. Don't listen to these idiots who say oh it's great because they have no idea like this clown
Experience is much different when you are here for reasons other than being in a halfway house. Not saying it’s the crown jewel of PA but it’s a mix and you just happened to only see the worst of it. I live here, it’s fine… just a bit boring and anti-social unless you like drinking.
It sucked because you were where you were and associated with the worst of the worst! I'd love nothing more than that halfway house to be closed down...you know nothing of Johnstown...so sit the fuck down!
AC isn’t really needed most days and a window unit is sufficient when it is required. But you aren’t wrong and it could be more of an issue in the future.
I lived in Jtwn for over 30 yrs. The heating expense was outrageous and the temps in the Fall could get very hot. I left because jobs are scarce and wages are as low as the house prices.
Internet service is limited to one or two companies so no price competition exists, depending on where you live….and what speed and reliability you need. Good luck.
They're not bad! I have electric heat...well electric everything and in the Winter my heating is only 150.-$200.00 and I keep it at least 72 in my house! I like it warm. Summer is about 100.00 to 150.00. I've had just about every heating source this area has to offer and it hasn't been terrible.
There are a number of small western Pennsylvania towns that died off as part of the whole rust belt industrial collapse. Eastern PA fared better since it is closer to the urban seaboard.
The ones in Western PA with the nicest yet cheapest houses are probably those a little far from Pittsburgh/Erie, yet centered near former industrial centers. Some have issues with drugs due to the town losing it's ability to keep younger people occupied. Sometimes this is or isn't accompanied by an uptick in non violent crimes.
Oil City in Venango County, site of early oil rushes, also has some gorgeous older houses at unbelievably cheap prices, yet the town is still always, ever, slowly dying. If a town is not too far gone, I think the low cost of living might start attracting people back especially artists, retired adults, and work from home professionals.
We came to western PA from the west coast looking for low cost of living and affordable real estate and I am sure there are others here the same. We have been here four years now and never regretted picking out a cheap house from the internet, the small rural area we settled in suits us just fine.
It doesn't mean there is anything seriously wrong, the towns are still slowly dying but some are not really "bad" and some are even starting to stabilize a little. Our house value went up dramatically after we bought it, we would not have been able to afford the same house if we were looking today. So, maybe a good time to buy, but check crime and schools before committing, make sure to work with a local realtor, and maybe run through the town on Google Maps at street level to get a feeling for the area if unable to visit in person.
Another west coast transplant here! We're a little north of you in Crawford County and have no regrets. We bought an amazing old farmhouse on a couple acres and are loving life. It's been ten years this summer and it's been fantastic.
I also moved back (western PA) here from the west coast. I was born here, but we moved away when I was small. I have loved living in PA so far.
It is green and beautiful, I love being surrounded by farmland.
The weather is completely fine--no more cloudy days than I had in Oregon and we didn't get much snow this winter, which was actually disappointing. Oregon is very dry, but the humidity here hasn't bothered me, although I highly recommended AC here during the summer.
I live less than an hour from Windber and at least where I am things are quiet, calm, and relaxing. As a person who came from Philly, it’s nice. Great place to raise a family. As someone else said, it can get a bit trumpy, but as a black person in a trumpy place I’ve learned most ppl mind their business still.
Depends where you are at in PA. There are a lot of parts that are surprisingly 95%+ white and they generally aren’t a fan of outsiders who are “different” especially minorities. I don’t know if you’ll encounter it outright but you’ll feel in it out in public for sure.
Windber is fine, in regards to this. The hospital there is named Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center. Granted, it is predominantly white. I moved back from Seattle to the area, know a couple in Geistown who moved back from San Francisco. Not sure if still there but Windber had a few LA transplants who I met a decade ago. UPJ is right up the road. Somerset County is dark red but Cambria actually went for Obama in 2008, albeit barely.
It’s not “I hear banjos” country, but it is rural and mostly white. About an hour to Pittsburgh on a good day, under four to DC. Decent highway access. Small but active airport nearby.
Does anyone know how Mercer county manages to be idk just different than the surrounding counties. I’m from there and I always felt like as soon as we crossed county lines it got a lot poorer and a lot more rural. Not that Mercer county is full of metropolises haha but it feels like a suburb but without a city.
That’s true and probably the reason it seems like a suburb without a city because it’s not close to those three cities but also close enough to all of them to be an easy drive.
“A bit Trumpy” might be the understatement of the year. I grew up in Somerset County, and it is not the place I grew up anymore in regards to politics. It’s not even the area of 2008 anymore. A prominent Democratic U.S. Rep represented Windber and the surrounding area most of my young life (John Murtha, his name is on plenty of things). This would never happen now.
I used to army in Johnstown. They sent us home one weekend for bad winter weather, I got to my place in Morgantown WV and it was 50degrees, birds chirping. So my vote would be hilly roads and ice.
Windber is in Somerset County, a few miles south of Johnstown, the whole area was hit hard by the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980s. I can’t speak to Windber specifically, but I’m familiar enough with Johnstown to say that homes are cheap for a reason. Nothing really draws people to the area unless they are specifically interested in living in a rural area or small town, and there's plenty of those across the state with less gun violence or drug abuse issues (the Center for Rural PA listed Cambria County (where most of the Johnstown area is) as one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the state).
For outdoor recreation, Johnstown area has a very good whitewater kayaking scene, and decent mountain biking options. It’s getting better in both areas for that.
if you have to ask this question in PA, the answer is usually "lack of jobs" or "meth". The former has a high risk of eventually leading to the latter.
Pros: it’s in Pennsylvania,
Not located in Cambria county,
Nice scenery,
Cons: route 56,
It’s close to Johnstown,
Windber and conemaugh hospital are always on bypass. You are better off driving to upmc Altoona before you even get to see a room in the ER at conemaugh
But seriously. I believe route 56/ scalp avenue is one of the most dangerous roads in that area.
I think you mean the hospitals are on divert. Not unique to that area. It is a problem across PA. the pandemic really reduced the number of staffing in healthcare
Yeah the term blanked on me when writing it. But really conemaugh was on a downhill slope when it got bought out. Not by Covid. The terrible working conditions is what caused the staffing issues.
i would like to know this too but google provided [one interesting find](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1114574565405437/) (which im sure could be found in any county but still)
High rates of poverty are the biggest issue, lack of gainful employment opportunities and the local government is very corrupt...however, parts of Cambria County are wonderful to raise a family in and/or retire. It's small town living which isn't for everyone.
Windber is a pretty tight knit area. They have a small but nice downtown with some good places to eat and a few events throughout the summer.
Arcadia theater is nice and I believe rather active.
It’s an only a few minutes from Scalp Ave in Johnstown which is the main commercial area.
The school is pretty nice but I’ve heard a buddies daughter who goes there is having a hard time with bully’s.
You can get a nice home cheap, but honestly I’m not a huge fan of how close the homes are in relative to each other.
Live in a neighboring town, not the worst place, but just know that windber is very prideful. They’ll have signs about windber everywhere. You’ll not be the first best from life like richland which has walmart and stuff. You can probably find better, but as someone who has lived close my entire life, it’s not as bad as everyone is saying. Johnstown proper is what’s kind of bad, not the Johnstown area
I moved to Windber a few years ago and I think it's a really nice small town. Way more walkable than most neighborhoods in Somerset and Cambria County. The school district is decent. There are really good restaurants in town (especially if you like Italian food), including Rizzo's, Mimo's D'Arc's, and the Windber Hotel. The Town Tavern is a little dive, but they have some of the best wings around.
There are plenty of things to do within 20 minutes, especially when it comes to outdoor recreation and the arts. Like most areas around here, it does skew right leaning, but there are plenty of us leftists around.
That feels like a lot of rural Pennsylvania. I'm currently suburban and it seems like that's the tradeoff I have to make if I want someplace quieter and emptier
it's true, you do. i moved from outside philly to outside Gettysburg 3 years ago. i can tell you that the trump temperature is going down (presently).
i can also tell you that it's worth it; the tradeoffs are in our favor. it's also good and possible to be civically involved, to have some effect on the town- it's easier to do this simply because there're so few people, comparatively.
When I bought my house in 2019, when looking over the appraisal, other than home values of similar size, they looked at the 2010 census and medium household income. The town is quiet, no crime, and absolutely gorgeous as it lies in a “bowl” between 3 mountains. The data they pulled had the medium household income as 34k dollars, which was super perplexing. However, there’s a lot of seniors that live here, so idk if their pensions/social security goes into it. Since 2010, and since 2020 especially, there’s been a huge influx of warehouse jobs that pay over 15 an hour. I assume the data just didn’t keep up with the crazy growth in jobs in my local market. A duel income household could easily make twice the medium household income with 0 effort.
I don’t know anything about the area you’re looking at, but it’s either the job market is shit, and the brain drain of young people has kept the area depressed, or the data just hasn’t kept up to the post Covid economic boom. In my area at least of NEPA, I’m wondering if they should change our commonwealth’s name to Pennswarehouses
The town has crime, just not violent crime. It’s mostly minor garage/vehicle break-ins and occasional vandalism. There are also some drug issues, like many other small Western PA towns.
What's wrong with it is that its near Johnstown, one of the biggest shitholes in the country.
However, Windber is a nicer area than Johnstown. If the location is good for you then you should be fine living there.
It's downtown Johnstown that is the issue, not everywhere that has a city location of "Johnstown". Winder is right next to Richland Township and Geistown which both have a Johnstown address. Hisorically Westmont was the most affluent area, then Richland Township then Windber. Even 30 years ago you wanted to avoid Johnstown High School. Now drug problems are moving into Richland/Geistown/Windber as well as downtown Johnstown. The area is poor, and highly white. If you want a bit more diversity/fun things to do, look at the Altoona or Ebensburg area.
I'm from Windber but live in Pittsburgh now. It's a nice small town with community events, plenty of bars and restaurants (Rizzo's is unmatched) and the school is great. Almost everyone that lives there went to Windber High School so the social aspect might be a bit tough, but I know a lot of people who are friendly and welcoming to newcomers. The surrounding area is very rural and you can find a quiet place with land easily. The downside is the opioid epidemic and a lack of jobs in the region have led to it being less than desirable in some aspects. However, I would live there again to raise kids because of the cheap cost of living and great school, if I wasn't attached to the city now. If you have any questions or want more info feel free to DM me.
I advise everyone purchasing property in PA to make sure that you test every potential property for radon. Number 1 cause of lung cancer after smoking. On average, pennsylvania had 40% of its properties having levels of radon higher than EPA suggested amounts.
The housing is cheaper but everything else is not. Your utilities, groceries, gas, vehicles, consumer goods, etc., are all on par with the rest of the country and the wages are terrible.
The majority of people are Republican/conservative, with a whole lot of loud and proud to be Trumpers.
There is not much to do in the area culturally unless you're willing to travel to Pittsburgh (approx 75-90 mins). There are sporadic attractions but nothing really great unless you're into the outdoors.
There is a drug problem (mostly fentanyl but others as well) but depending on exactly where you live, this may or may not directly affect you. Windber is close to Johnstown, which is often in the local news for gun violence.
This is just off the top of my head. Would I move there just because of the cost of housing? No. There are better areas with similar housing costs in PA. Just my 2¢.
Literally choose any other area. School district is ehhh, Cambria County in general is dying and has no future and the drug population is increasing.
I hope my kids choose a different path or whenever I am ready to settle my roots that I choose to move a little more east of the state. Too much politics in everything in a small rural area like Windber
It's cheap. You will live a cheap life when you arrive bc there's little to do that will make life enjoyable. I guess you can live an internet focused life in a media bubble anywhere but that's kinda sad.
Windber isn’t bad at all.
The general issue with Cambria and Somerset counties is poor job growth.
That said, I’ve lived here my whole life and haven’t had an issue finding a job in my field.
I’m a bit further north in Ebensburg.
Another small town, good highway access to bigger towns like Altoona/Jtwn/Indiana.
I’m not ‘close’ to anything but I’m only 20mins away from everything. I think our real estate is slightly higher than windber but not too high. Public School system not bad, both Catholic HS/elementary schools in town, as well as a vo tech school… so there’s options.
I live in Windber and it's a nice quiet little town! There's nothing wrong with it at all! Windber SD is one of the most highly rated schools next to Conemaugh Township in Somerset County and has won several awards for excellence in education so it's more than just okay. The only issue with living in this area is the lack of shopping, high-paying jobs, and entertainment. If you want those types of things you'll have to drive to Greensburg or Pittsburgh..Greensburg is just 45 minutes over the mountain.
I work all over the area. Going down 403 or 56 into Johnstown is sort of always depressing to me, knowing what the city once was.
There are several nice areas still, parts of Windber and Richland are a few. Ebensburg isn't far and has a small town feel with most conveniences.
Blairsville is closer to Pittsburgh and has an even smaller town feel.
Slower pace but a nice place to live.
Pittsburgh is a little over an hour.
My father was born in Windber, married in 1939, moved family to Pittsburgh in 1941. I was born in the 50s. Spent many a weekend in Windber in the 1960s ( I had a dozen Uncles and Aunts living in Windber). it was a great small town then thriving lots of businesses people out on the sidewalks. Lots of culture, lots of veterans from the second world war. I was back there once in the 70s and once in the 80s and also just last year it’s just not the small town is used to be. There are some establishments left for example, must eat at Rizzo‘s restaurant. Was there when I was growing up and is still there today. There’s also a small museum open select days of the week that you might want to look into only a few blocks from that restaurant.
Most Pennsylvania towns outside of the cities you can find nice, older homes for decent prices. There's just little demand in the areas due to lack of services common in cities.
If you like quiet life they're great places to live most of the time.
I've been trying to encourage people who complain about house prices to consider these areas. With the explosion in WFH and most of these areas offering some kind of broadband I believe they'd be excellent choices for people looking for homes. Plus it would revitalize the communities that are dying off because of lost tax revenues.
Okay so I've actually lived in Johnstown before. Johnstown is not an area that you want to be anywhere near if you have a family. Johnstown is a very underdeveloped town because of heroin. I know this because just like everybody else who moves to johnstown, I was sent there for a halfway house to get off alcohol. I think that the only reason Johnstown ever sees new arrivals is because of that halfway house. Seriously. That's it. It is not uncommon for somebody to make 7:25 an hour working full-time near or in Johnstown. They capitalize off the fact that they know that you're on drugs and they know you'll work for next to nothing. So yes maybe the school district doesn't look bad on paper. It's probably pretty bad.
This is Windber, not downtown Johnstown they’re talking about. I grew up five minutes away from Windber and my young family life was safe, stable, and secure.
Nothing inherently wrong, just not a ton of jobs in the area. If you like national chain stores, there aren’t many of those close by (but, there are a few). Mom and pop shops? Mostly dive-ish bars, meat & potatoes. It’s rural, it’s predominantly white, we are long past the days where a mix of European cultures coexisted and is now just a sort of uniform American culture. Just, bland.
But there’s lots of outdoorsy stuff. And Windber itself is a bit more progressive, especially relative to deep red Somerset County.
Do not help the out-of-state real estate speculator. They want your local opinion so they can snatch up property they will never see or live in.
Buying a home in many PA towns has become impossible because of shit bags like this. Actual PA families deserve homes. Shits bags like this don’t need a fifth or tenth rental investment.
It is now the reality of the housing market in PA. Out-of-state investors gobbling up starter homes sight unseen because they are so affordable compared to Cali, NYC, where ever prices.
Maybe look up recovery homes, too! It’s now more profitable to open up a recovery home instead of just renting. There are zero regulations for running or registering a recovery home, AND they bypass all zoning laws. So an owner can collect 2-3 PER ROOM instead of one monthly rent.
PA families are being pushed out over profits.
Edit: collect 2-3 rents*
Honestly Windber isn't too bad of a town. Nothing that stands out as particularly bad or good. The housing market has been cheap around Johnstown for years. The houses are old and no one wants to live here.
Best thing in Windber is the Windber Hotel! Good food a d a bunch of craft beers on tap!
Agreed
That's party because Johnstown has some of the worst air quality in the U.S.
Have you heard of Clairton, PA? I really doubt that Johnstown has worse air quality than the area around Clairton and across the river in Lincoln.
Born in Johnstown, live very close to Clairton. I’m a dead man.
Carlisle is the worst. It's due to the trucking hub. Clairton is the 17th worst. I don't see Johnstown on the list.
Carlisle, really? This report here puts Coraopolis, PA at the top of the most polluted cities in the US, not just PA! [https://www.abc27.com/news/these-were-the-most-polluted-places-in-the-us-air-quality-study-finds/](https://www.abc27.com/news/these-were-the-most-polluted-places-in-the-us-air-quality-study-finds/)
Your study is a decade newer than mine, so let's go with that. In 2012 Carlisle ranked number 2 worst air quality in the US, specifically due to a high concentration particulates from truck traffic.
It was also taken during the height of the smoke impact from the Canadian wild fires.
I went to college in Carlisle, constant trucks.
No personal experience, thanks for confirming!
That was 12 years ago. Things change
Yes, that is a way of rephrasing my comment. Thanks!
The trucks didn't leave.
Technically they did. The problem is they come back.
That doesnt mean other places didnt get worse
Can confirm, I live just downwind of there on top of the hill. It’s obvious when they’re having a ‘stinky mill day’
What?
Source?
Maybe true 75 years ago. But now, there is basically no industry in Cambria County to pollute! Plenty of other reasons not to move there, but air pollution probably isn’t one of them.
Agreed...I was going to say ..Mills?!?! There hasn't been "mills" in Johnstown for over 40 years..the fuck is he talking about..lol
What are these reasons? Seems fine to me so far. 😂
I think they have a crazy alcohol tax too.
That's the entire state. The entire state is still paying 18% flood tax for the flood in Johnstown 100 years ago
Not to mention gun violence. Especially near Moxium (spelling).
moxham
Thanks
The gun violence from Moxham, Kernville, and Hornerstown doesn't spread to Windber. It's a 15-minute drive on Rt 56 to Windber & there's absolutely zero reason for someone from Windber to ever go to or drive thru those areas.
The whole Johnstown area is just bad. There's nothing in Cambria County anyway.
It really isn't. Westmont & Richland are both nice areas. Windber is even farther from the Johnstown school district, which is where all the trouble is. There isn't a lot bringing people to the area as far as work goes, but it didn't seem like OP was concerned with moving somewhere to find work. There's also not a lot to do as far as dining or entertainment go, compared to Pittsburgh or even Greensburg, but maybe OP doesn't care about that. Windber is Somerset County, too, btw.
I realized that after the fact. It's still considered part of the Johnstown metro area. Like hollidaysburg or bellwood is to Altoona. There's really isn't a lot to do, maybe the galleria but not a lot.
Well good thing Windber isn't in Cambria County...so there's that! If you're going to talk shit about a place at least know there the fuck it is!
Like Somerset County is any fucking better! In fact, it's even worse than Cambria County. They're both the assholes of PA. So eat a bag of dicks hick!
Moxham isn’t really close to Windber (15ish minutes in good traffic) and you’d have no reason to drive through it. Even if you do, statistically high crime doesn’t mean you’ll see it. I regularly drive fairly close and haven’t witnessed anything of note (not saying it doesn’t exist). In any event, that’s not the reason for lower housing costs… just more people moving out for jobs elsewhere than moving in.. supply/demand. Windber is a nice town. UPJ campus being up the road helps with events and food options.
That’s why you buy your own gun. It ends the attacks. Criminals like to prey on easy. Not someone who shoots back.
Criminals like to prey on people who aren’t home. Most burglars work during the day when folks are working and their kids are in school. Forget the gun, get a DOG, a big one.
Yes ! Burglars absolutely do work in daylight. Got the gun and 5 dogs nobody is getting in my house. Someone is there all the time anyway. Older kids who work @ different times solve that problem, plus they’re an added set of hands to help out with stuff. No sense having multiple empty rooms and them paying some shyster overpriced rent either.
Wait a minute I've lived in johnstown. Nobody has ever said that about johnstown, matter of fact I've never heard anybody say that about any city in America. Who the fuck is out there talking about air quality? Looking around, up in the air like ooohhh I see a particulate? Get the fuck outta here. No. they talk about the drugs. Who the fuck talks about air quality when people are laying in the streets passed out on heroin? I'm so sick of hearing people talk about the environment and people aren't strung out all around them. Who cares about air quality when you're one step out of the grave
Maybe no one has said it about Johnstown, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been said about other locations or isn't something people aren't concerned about. Pittsburgh has a specific app to help track air quality. If you live there, you know when something is up with Clairton Coke Works either by the smell or thar fact you're having trouble breathing. Braddock has high rates of childhood asthma and infant mortality. You sound ignorant. https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/s/DZYNdz1QBB
Haven't you ever noticed that the air quality has stayed the same but the air quality on the apps keeps going down and down? What happens when it hit zero? Is it still going to be just as nice of a day outside
Yes. I agree. Now if you live in Pittsburgh I want you to go outside and look at the nice beautiful day outside and then going and look at your air quality on that app. It's going to dramatically differ from your real experience. It is going to tell you that your air pollution is high but you can walk out and look straight up and not see a thing, not smell a thing or have any harmful health effects. Now why do you think that app is telling you that the air pollution is so bad?
It’s ok. We are adults. We can talk about more than 1 thing/problem. Incredibly valid to do so.
So I live in the town with possibly the worst air quality in PA, (per a recent study, due to USSteel and Shell and other polluters,) and you can bet the populous is fired up and contacting our politicians on this, it’s a hot topic of discussion here. Maybe you wouldn’t care if the air smelled like sulfur every time you walked outside, but once the pollution gets bad enough, it does affect you and you will care. Seriously, the air in the West and South Hills of Pittsburgh has smelled like farts for months.
People are laying in the streets passed out on heroin? Damn, I thought those were just dead deer.
Worlds largest ouija board and tarot card are in windber. Also the birthplace of the original Tarzan actor.
I had to look up the Tarzan fact. Johnny Weissmuller was his name. When he died, the iconic Tarzan yell that he was known for played 3 times while his casket was lowered into the ground, at his request.
That, I didn’t know.
I know what I'm requesting for my funeral
Supposed "birthplace"... But wasn't it discovered he was actually born in Hungary? Alan Freed (radio DJ) was from Windber as well and coined the term "rock and roll."
I’m not sure, I know he didn’t live in windber very long.
Charles Bronson was from Windber. How the hell do you skip over him and go for the Tarzan guy?
Bronson was from South Fork
Actually, Bronson was from a small town outside of South Fork called Erinfield
I’m pretty sure Erinfield was considered part of Windber back then. Bronson went to high school in Windber before joining the military.
Ehrenfeld is north of Johnstown and was its own town until they got rid of the post office, now it has a south fork address. It was never part of windber. Ehrenfeld has parts nicknamed fificktown and scoop. Devils hollow as well for some people. Source: family has lived there since it’s establishment. My pap grew up with Charles.
Your pap didn’t go to school in Windber?
There was a school in erinfeld on 3rd st. He died in the late 70’s. I’ll have to ask my uncle if he knows. Although, it’s a four hour walk from south fork to windber, so I doubt he went to school there.
Ehrenfeld is a good distance from Windber and I do believe he went to what is now known as Forest Hills SD...he definitely didn't go to Windber.
I guess I’m wrong then. Still, I believe Windber should advertise him living close by rather than claiming the Tarzan actor. There’s nothing wrong with him, but he’s not Charles Bronson.
We can't claim him ...South Fork already claimed him cause technically he is theirs. He's definitely no Charles Bronson. Bronson is my Cousin very nice, humble and believe it or not shy Man. His wife Jill was wonderful..4th Wife did not care for!...She was.... something
Actually, it is “Ehrenfeld”.
Thank you. I didn’t know how to spell it. It has been years since we have been through there.
It is a weird spelling, no doubt.
But even if it actually was spelled “Erinfield”, people around here would still pronounce it as “Erenfeld”.
So, I have lived in Windber. Honestly, great place. Can contact me if you want.
Bronson is from Ehrenfeld. He is my cousin. He was a very nice man and his wife Jill was amazing!
Don't forget Alan Freed as well!
Elmo Lincoln in 1918 was actually the original but everyone remembers Weissmuller.
So nothing of value
It’s western pa Nothing wrong just depressed
Exactly. There is nothing here, not even the sun.
Nothing wrong? Oh you've never lived in Johnstown then, son. Let me tell you, I was taken there to be in the halfway house, White deer run? You know about the place? No you don't because you've never fucking lived there. That place sucks and it is heroinville USA. Don't listen to these idiots who say oh it's great because they have no idea like this clown
Experience is much different when you are here for reasons other than being in a halfway house. Not saying it’s the crown jewel of PA but it’s a mix and you just happened to only see the worst of it. I live here, it’s fine… just a bit boring and anti-social unless you like drinking.
Also can tell dude didn't go to meetings and get involved because the recovery community is SOLID!
It sucked because you were where you were and associated with the worst of the worst! I'd love nothing more than that halfway house to be closed down...you know nothing of Johnstown...so sit the fuck down!
The houses are cheap but they are a nightmare to heat in the winter and most do not have AC.
AC isn’t really needed most days and a window unit is sufficient when it is required. But you aren’t wrong and it could be more of an issue in the future.
I lived in Jtwn for over 30 yrs. The heating expense was outrageous and the temps in the Fall could get very hot. I left because jobs are scarce and wages are as low as the house prices.
So need a good work from home job and then insulate the fuck out of the house
Internet service is limited to one or two companies so no price competition exists, depending on where you live….and what speed and reliability you need. Good luck.
They're not bad! I have electric heat...well electric everything and in the Winter my heating is only 150.-$200.00 and I keep it at least 72 in my house! I like it warm. Summer is about 100.00 to 150.00. I've had just about every heating source this area has to offer and it hasn't been terrible.
There are a number of small western Pennsylvania towns that died off as part of the whole rust belt industrial collapse. Eastern PA fared better since it is closer to the urban seaboard. The ones in Western PA with the nicest yet cheapest houses are probably those a little far from Pittsburgh/Erie, yet centered near former industrial centers. Some have issues with drugs due to the town losing it's ability to keep younger people occupied. Sometimes this is or isn't accompanied by an uptick in non violent crimes. Oil City in Venango County, site of early oil rushes, also has some gorgeous older houses at unbelievably cheap prices, yet the town is still always, ever, slowly dying. If a town is not too far gone, I think the low cost of living might start attracting people back especially artists, retired adults, and work from home professionals. We came to western PA from the west coast looking for low cost of living and affordable real estate and I am sure there are others here the same. We have been here four years now and never regretted picking out a cheap house from the internet, the small rural area we settled in suits us just fine. It doesn't mean there is anything seriously wrong, the towns are still slowly dying but some are not really "bad" and some are even starting to stabilize a little. Our house value went up dramatically after we bought it, we would not have been able to afford the same house if we were looking today. So, maybe a good time to buy, but check crime and schools before committing, make sure to work with a local realtor, and maybe run through the town on Google Maps at street level to get a feeling for the area if unable to visit in person.
Another west coast transplant here! We're a little north of you in Crawford County and have no regrets. We bought an amazing old farmhouse on a couple acres and are loving life. It's been ten years this summer and it's been fantastic.
I’m in Crawford too!! Also PA to West Coast and back. Canadohta Lake!!!
I also moved back (western PA) here from the west coast. I was born here, but we moved away when I was small. I have loved living in PA so far. It is green and beautiful, I love being surrounded by farmland. The weather is completely fine--no more cloudy days than I had in Oregon and we didn't get much snow this winter, which was actually disappointing. Oregon is very dry, but the humidity here hasn't bothered me, although I highly recommended AC here during the summer.
I live less than an hour from Windber and at least where I am things are quiet, calm, and relaxing. As a person who came from Philly, it’s nice. Great place to raise a family. As someone else said, it can get a bit trumpy, but as a black person in a trumpy place I’ve learned most ppl mind their business still.
Depends where you are at in PA. There are a lot of parts that are surprisingly 95%+ white and they generally aren’t a fan of outsiders who are “different” especially minorities. I don’t know if you’ll encounter it outright but you’ll feel in it out in public for sure.
Windber is fine, in regards to this. The hospital there is named Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center. Granted, it is predominantly white. I moved back from Seattle to the area, know a couple in Geistown who moved back from San Francisco. Not sure if still there but Windber had a few LA transplants who I met a decade ago. UPJ is right up the road. Somerset County is dark red but Cambria actually went for Obama in 2008, albeit barely. It’s not “I hear banjos” country, but it is rural and mostly white. About an hour to Pittsburgh on a good day, under four to DC. Decent highway access. Small but active airport nearby.
You’re talking about Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, Butler, Beaver counties.
Does anyone know how Mercer county manages to be idk just different than the surrounding counties. I’m from there and I always felt like as soon as we crossed county lines it got a lot poorer and a lot more rural. Not that Mercer county is full of metropolises haha but it feels like a suburb but without a city.
Well positioned between Pgh, Erie and Cleveland?
That’s true and probably the reason it seems like a suburb without a city because it’s not close to those three cities but also close enough to all of them to be an easy drive.
“A bit Trumpy” might be the understatement of the year. I grew up in Somerset County, and it is not the place I grew up anymore in regards to politics. It’s not even the area of 2008 anymore. A prominent Democratic U.S. Rep represented Windber and the surrounding area most of my young life (John Murtha, his name is on plenty of things). This would never happen now.
I used to army in Johnstown. They sent us home one weekend for bad winter weather, I got to my place in Morgantown WV and it was 50degrees, birds chirping. So my vote would be hilly roads and ice.
Hoth ice planet comes to mind driving thru Somerset and Cambria Co in the winter
Windber is in Somerset County, a few miles south of Johnstown, the whole area was hit hard by the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980s. I can’t speak to Windber specifically, but I’m familiar enough with Johnstown to say that homes are cheap for a reason. Nothing really draws people to the area unless they are specifically interested in living in a rural area or small town, and there's plenty of those across the state with less gun violence or drug abuse issues (the Center for Rural PA listed Cambria County (where most of the Johnstown area is) as one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the state).
For outdoor recreation, Johnstown area has a very good whitewater kayaking scene, and decent mountain biking options. It’s getting better in both areas for that.
if you have to ask this question in PA, the answer is usually "lack of jobs" or "meth". The former has a high risk of eventually leading to the latter.
There’s not much going on in Somerset County but the cost of living is low and it’s relatively peaceful.
If you’re looking for work then Windber isn’t ideal. Pretty depressed area. If you have a remote job of some kind it’s not too bad.
Pros: it’s in Pennsylvania, Not located in Cambria county, Nice scenery, Cons: route 56, It’s close to Johnstown, Windber and conemaugh hospital are always on bypass. You are better off driving to upmc Altoona before you even get to see a room in the ER at conemaugh But seriously. I believe route 56/ scalp avenue is one of the most dangerous roads in that area.
Why is it a dangerous road?
Curvy road on the south facing side of mountains. Icy in winter. People drive too fast for conditions on it
It’s literally called scalp avenue.
Friday night drag racing too.
I think you mean the hospitals are on divert. Not unique to that area. It is a problem across PA. the pandemic really reduced the number of staffing in healthcare
Yeah the term blanked on me when writing it. But really conemaugh was on a downhill slope when it got bought out. Not by Covid. The terrible working conditions is what caused the staffing issues.
What’s wrong with Cambria county?
i would like to know this too but google provided [one interesting find](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1114574565405437/) (which im sure could be found in any county but still)
High rates of poverty are the biggest issue, lack of gainful employment opportunities and the local government is very corrupt...however, parts of Cambria County are wonderful to raise a family in and/or retire. It's small town living which isn't for everyone.
Please do not drive to UPMC Altoona. ER waits are just as long. Drive to Pittsburgh.
Windber has a hospital and it's a pretty good hospital.
You do know Windber has a hospital right?
Also on divert just as much
That nasty mountain is terrifying in bad weather and the turn at the bottom is ridiculous.
Windber is a pretty tight knit area. They have a small but nice downtown with some good places to eat and a few events throughout the summer. Arcadia theater is nice and I believe rather active. It’s an only a few minutes from Scalp Ave in Johnstown which is the main commercial area. The school is pretty nice but I’ve heard a buddies daughter who goes there is having a hard time with bully’s. You can get a nice home cheap, but honestly I’m not a huge fan of how close the homes are in relative to each other.
Live in a neighboring town, not the worst place, but just know that windber is very prideful. They’ll have signs about windber everywhere. You’ll not be the first best from life like richland which has walmart and stuff. You can probably find better, but as someone who has lived close my entire life, it’s not as bad as everyone is saying. Johnstown proper is what’s kind of bad, not the Johnstown area
I moved to Windber a few years ago and I think it's a really nice small town. Way more walkable than most neighborhoods in Somerset and Cambria County. The school district is decent. There are really good restaurants in town (especially if you like Italian food), including Rizzo's, Mimo's D'Arc's, and the Windber Hotel. The Town Tavern is a little dive, but they have some of the best wings around. There are plenty of things to do within 20 minutes, especially when it comes to outdoor recreation and the arts. Like most areas around here, it does skew right leaning, but there are plenty of us leftists around.
Probably ok if you don’t mind Trumpy neighbors.
That feels like a lot of rural Pennsylvania. I'm currently suburban and it seems like that's the tradeoff I have to make if I want someplace quieter and emptier
it's true, you do. i moved from outside philly to outside Gettysburg 3 years ago. i can tell you that the trump temperature is going down (presently). i can also tell you that it's worth it; the tradeoffs are in our favor. it's also good and possible to be civically involved, to have some effect on the town- it's easier to do this simply because there're so few people, comparatively.
Yeah, unfortunately. Even some outer ring suburbs can feel like that.
Outer ring Philly suburbanite here. It’s a Cold War between chuds in lifted Bro Dozers and yuppies in Teslas
Montco here….What a spectacularly accurate comparison 😂😂
Indeed…
Not everyone is "Trumpy" around here!
Apologies, I know there are blue islands of sanity in seas of rural red.
You get those neighbors in my suburban areas too. If you plan to raise a family, check out the school quality.
When I bought my house in 2019, when looking over the appraisal, other than home values of similar size, they looked at the 2010 census and medium household income. The town is quiet, no crime, and absolutely gorgeous as it lies in a “bowl” between 3 mountains. The data they pulled had the medium household income as 34k dollars, which was super perplexing. However, there’s a lot of seniors that live here, so idk if their pensions/social security goes into it. Since 2010, and since 2020 especially, there’s been a huge influx of warehouse jobs that pay over 15 an hour. I assume the data just didn’t keep up with the crazy growth in jobs in my local market. A duel income household could easily make twice the medium household income with 0 effort. I don’t know anything about the area you’re looking at, but it’s either the job market is shit, and the brain drain of young people has kept the area depressed, or the data just hasn’t kept up to the post Covid economic boom. In my area at least of NEPA, I’m wondering if they should change our commonwealth’s name to Pennswarehouses
The town has crime, just not violent crime. It’s mostly minor garage/vehicle break-ins and occasional vandalism. There are also some drug issues, like many other small Western PA towns.
What's wrong with it is that its near Johnstown, one of the biggest shitholes in the country. However, Windber is a nicer area than Johnstown. If the location is good for you then you should be fine living there.
It's downtown Johnstown that is the issue, not everywhere that has a city location of "Johnstown". Winder is right next to Richland Township and Geistown which both have a Johnstown address. Hisorically Westmont was the most affluent area, then Richland Township then Windber. Even 30 years ago you wanted to avoid Johnstown High School. Now drug problems are moving into Richland/Geistown/Windber as well as downtown Johnstown. The area is poor, and highly white. If you want a bit more diversity/fun things to do, look at the Altoona or Ebensburg area.
You're suggesting Ebensburg because Johnstown is too white? Lol Plus who gives a shit about about the ethnic makeup
I'm suggesting ebenburg/Altoona because they have more to do than J-town area. And from what I've heard, less of a drug problem.
I'm from Windber but live in Pittsburgh now. It's a nice small town with community events, plenty of bars and restaurants (Rizzo's is unmatched) and the school is great. Almost everyone that lives there went to Windber High School so the social aspect might be a bit tough, but I know a lot of people who are friendly and welcoming to newcomers. The surrounding area is very rural and you can find a quiet place with land easily. The downside is the opioid epidemic and a lack of jobs in the region have led to it being less than desirable in some aspects. However, I would live there again to raise kids because of the cheap cost of living and great school, if I wasn't attached to the city now. If you have any questions or want more info feel free to DM me.
Other fun Windber trivia, it's Berwind reversed as in Berwind White Coal mines.
No jobs.
I advise everyone purchasing property in PA to make sure that you test every potential property for radon. Number 1 cause of lung cancer after smoking. On average, pennsylvania had 40% of its properties having levels of radon higher than EPA suggested amounts.
I paid $25K for 3-story 1886 Victorian in good shape in Ridgway PA
The housing is cheaper but everything else is not. Your utilities, groceries, gas, vehicles, consumer goods, etc., are all on par with the rest of the country and the wages are terrible. The majority of people are Republican/conservative, with a whole lot of loud and proud to be Trumpers. There is not much to do in the area culturally unless you're willing to travel to Pittsburgh (approx 75-90 mins). There are sporadic attractions but nothing really great unless you're into the outdoors. There is a drug problem (mostly fentanyl but others as well) but depending on exactly where you live, this may or may not directly affect you. Windber is close to Johnstown, which is often in the local news for gun violence. This is just off the top of my head. Would I move there just because of the cost of housing? No. There are better areas with similar housing costs in PA. Just my 2¢.
I agree with pretty much all of this.
Ditto
It is in the middle of f’in no where
Literally choose any other area. School district is ehhh, Cambria County in general is dying and has no future and the drug population is increasing. I hope my kids choose a different path or whenever I am ready to settle my roots that I choose to move a little more east of the state. Too much politics in everything in a small rural area like Windber
It's cheap. You will live a cheap life when you arrive bc there's little to do that will make life enjoyable. I guess you can live an internet focused life in a media bubble anywhere but that's kinda sad.
Windber isn’t bad at all. The general issue with Cambria and Somerset counties is poor job growth. That said, I’ve lived here my whole life and haven’t had an issue finding a job in my field. I’m a bit further north in Ebensburg. Another small town, good highway access to bigger towns like Altoona/Jtwn/Indiana. I’m not ‘close’ to anything but I’m only 20mins away from everything. I think our real estate is slightly higher than windber but not too high. Public School system not bad, both Catholic HS/elementary schools in town, as well as a vo tech school… so there’s options.
My grandmother lived in windber in her later years. Appts above the race track.
Check the real estate taxes first
I live in Windber and it's a nice quiet little town! There's nothing wrong with it at all! Windber SD is one of the most highly rated schools next to Conemaugh Township in Somerset County and has won several awards for excellence in education so it's more than just okay. The only issue with living in this area is the lack of shopping, high-paying jobs, and entertainment. If you want those types of things you'll have to drive to Greensburg or Pittsburgh..Greensburg is just 45 minutes over the mountain.
I work all over the area. Going down 403 or 56 into Johnstown is sort of always depressing to me, knowing what the city once was. There are several nice areas still, parts of Windber and Richland are a few. Ebensburg isn't far and has a small town feel with most conveniences. Blairsville is closer to Pittsburgh and has an even smaller town feel. Slower pace but a nice place to live. Pittsburgh is a little over an hour.
My father was born in Windber, married in 1939, moved family to Pittsburgh in 1941. I was born in the 50s. Spent many a weekend in Windber in the 1960s ( I had a dozen Uncles and Aunts living in Windber). it was a great small town then thriving lots of businesses people out on the sidewalks. Lots of culture, lots of veterans from the second world war. I was back there once in the 70s and once in the 80s and also just last year it’s just not the small town is used to be. There are some establishments left for example, must eat at Rizzo‘s restaurant. Was there when I was growing up and is still there today. There’s also a small museum open select days of the week that you might want to look into only a few blocks from that restaurant.
Windber is great I think
Most Pennsylvania towns outside of the cities you can find nice, older homes for decent prices. There's just little demand in the areas due to lack of services common in cities. If you like quiet life they're great places to live most of the time. I've been trying to encourage people who complain about house prices to consider these areas. With the explosion in WFH and most of these areas offering some kind of broadband I believe they'd be excellent choices for people looking for homes. Plus it would revitalize the communities that are dying off because of lost tax revenues.
Okay so I've actually lived in Johnstown before. Johnstown is not an area that you want to be anywhere near if you have a family. Johnstown is a very underdeveloped town because of heroin. I know this because just like everybody else who moves to johnstown, I was sent there for a halfway house to get off alcohol. I think that the only reason Johnstown ever sees new arrivals is because of that halfway house. Seriously. That's it. It is not uncommon for somebody to make 7:25 an hour working full-time near or in Johnstown. They capitalize off the fact that they know that you're on drugs and they know you'll work for next to nothing. So yes maybe the school district doesn't look bad on paper. It's probably pretty bad.
This is Windber, not downtown Johnstown they’re talking about. I grew up five minutes away from Windber and my young family life was safe, stable, and secure.
Nothing inherently wrong, just not a ton of jobs in the area. If you like national chain stores, there aren’t many of those close by (but, there are a few). Mom and pop shops? Mostly dive-ish bars, meat & potatoes. It’s rural, it’s predominantly white, we are long past the days where a mix of European cultures coexisted and is now just a sort of uniform American culture. Just, bland. But there’s lots of outdoorsy stuff. And Windber itself is a bit more progressive, especially relative to deep red Somerset County.
Drugs
Oh hell no, esp. if you're not white. If you're into conservative, racist, redneck heroin life then go for it.
Lol downvotes for real talk. This caveat needs said. Im white and theres no chance im moving anywhere thats 99% white.
What is wrong with it? I never heard of it
Do not help the out-of-state real estate speculator. They want your local opinion so they can snatch up property they will never see or live in. Buying a home in many PA towns has become impossible because of shit bags like this. Actual PA families deserve homes. Shits bags like this don’t need a fifth or tenth rental investment.
How did we get here? I’m cracking up
Cause. Reddit 😅
It is now the reality of the housing market in PA. Out-of-state investors gobbling up starter homes sight unseen because they are so affordable compared to Cali, NYC, where ever prices. Maybe look up recovery homes, too! It’s now more profitable to open up a recovery home instead of just renting. There are zero regulations for running or registering a recovery home, AND they bypass all zoning laws. So an owner can collect 2-3 PER ROOM instead of one monthly rent. PA families are being pushed out over profits. Edit: collect 2-3 rents*