Johnstown Elkhart-Goshen

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Johnstown to Elkhart-Goshen is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 85.9 to 90.3 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $148/mo.

+$2,833
BLS median salary higher in Elkhart-Goshen
250 to 308
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
13.6:1 to 15.9:1
NCES student-teacher ratio

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 85.9 → 90.3
Rent Delta: +$148/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $3K higher median salary
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 4% higher cost of living
  • - $148/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 85.9 to 90.3, so the same paycheck buys less in Elkhart-Goshen (ratio 1.05). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $148/mo ($1,776/yr) from $1,035 in Johnstown to $1,183 in Elkhart-Goshen.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (2 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Elkhart-Goshen sits #141 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Johnstown is #35/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $2,833 higher ($57,143 → $59,976). Labor-market size: 42,320 tracked jobs at origin vs 122,290 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Pennsylvania 65 (C, #18/51) vs Indiana 62 (C, #24/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Johnstown
Elkhart-Goshen
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 85.9
RPP 90.3
Johnstown
Rent (2BR)
$1,035/mo
$1,183/mo
Johnstown
Wages
$57,143
$59,976
Elkhart-Goshen
Crime
250 per 100K
308 per 100K
Johnstown
Schools
13.6:1
15.9:1
Johnstown
Childcare
N/A
N/A
Tie
Environment
5292 violations
1514 violations
Elkhart-Goshen

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Pennsylvania
65 C #18/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
58
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
72
Destination state · Indiana
62 C #24/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
69
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
32

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Johnstown to see what you'd need to earn in Elkhart-Goshen to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Elkhart-Goshen
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026