Kinzey near Alfred, 2018
Geistown’s story
214 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2018.
- 1812Geistown is settled
GeistownPA
A town of 2,263, settled in 1812.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
2,263
2025 Census estimate · −4% since 2020
Median home value
$155K
Census ACS
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
51.4
years
Jobs based here
749
Balanced
Is Geistown a good place to live?
Geistown’s best subject grades are an A for schools and safety. Only 17 of Pennsylvania’s 1,751 towns score higher on hazard risk. Geistown’s median age is 51.4 years, above both the Pennsylvania town median (43.2 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Geistown has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Geistown stand out
Where Geistown beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA+
Lower risk than 99% of U.S. communities
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
1 schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Mercy Catholic Academy | PK–6 | 307 |
SchoolsA
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Geistown2.6
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
13% more violent crime than PA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
How Geistown grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Geistown is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listA+Open →SchoolsAOpen →SafetyAOpen →HealthConemaugh Memorial Medical Center 2.5 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $155K, 2.6 years of the Johnstown metro’s $58K median household incomeBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.9 of 20; 3.1% of households have no car; 0.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Jobs & income$64K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC+Open →HistoryBOpen →Civic life4.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Geistown: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Geistown, and how to reach them.
PowerREA Energy Coop16.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHighland S & W Auth Beaverdam water system3 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offSafety Kleen, 2 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCambria County Board of ElectionsCambria County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026
ZIP code1590415904 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Geistown.
93%of PA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divine Mercy Catholic Academy PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 307 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
The FEMA risk score in Geistown is lower than in the typical Pennsylvania or U.S. town
At 1 of 100, Geistown’s FEMA risk score is against 30 of 100 in Pennsylvania’s towns and 44 of 100 across U.S. towns. Since 1987, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Geistown.
1risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 1987
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyA
Less crime per resident in Geistown than in 87% of U.S. towns
The violent crime rate in Geistown is 2.6 per 1,000 residents.
87%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Geistown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.6 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.5 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Geistown2.6
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Geistown3.5
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
87th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
8
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
Older than Pennsylvania overall
People 65 and older are 31% of residents (20% statewide); children under 18 are 16% of residents (21% statewide). Geistown has lost 4% of its people since 2020, down to 2,263 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
51.4median age · PA 40.9
| Geistown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 16% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 29% | 29% | 29% |
GeistownPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school37%
Some college21%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.8 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Geistown | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.9% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.1% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.1% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 22.6% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.4% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.2% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 37.3% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.1% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.7% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.6% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.1% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,300, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Geistown has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Geistown has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Geistown’s July high is 80°F.
74″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–36°
Spring36–58°
Summer57–78°
Fall40–60°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Geistown is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns
Geistown beats the Pennsylvania average on 1 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 16% of Geistown adults report frequent mental distress.
65%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Geistown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 5.7% | 6.9% | 8.1% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 80% | 79% | 79% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
1 better23 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Geistown | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.1% | 14.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.8% | 8.8% |
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
2.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most of Geistown’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Geistown for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Geistown fell to 749 in 2023, 178 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Richland Township (20%), Johnstown (18%) and Windber (3%).
3%work in town
| Geistown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $64,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.2% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Geistown3%
Richland Township20%
Johnstown18%
Windber3%
Pittsburgh2%
5 mi
median commute distance
749
jobs based in Geistown
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 61% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B
A home in Geistown sells for about $320K at the median
$320Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 54 attractions →Flight 93 National Memorial and 19 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Geistown. Close and well known come first.
Big draw14 mi National MemorialFlight 93 National Memorial286K visitors a year
6 mi DamSouth Fork Dam
4 mi National Historic SiteAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site163K visitors a year
39 mi MountainMount Davis22 mi Theme parkIdlewild and Soak Zone
20 mi MuseumFort LigonierSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Flight 93 National Memorial: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · South Fork Dam: Ernest Walter Histed, Public domain · Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: Matthew A. Lynn; Original uploader was Mosamiazaz at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Mount Davis: Wikiuser100, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Ligonier: The original uploader was Mind meal at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Geistown
18pages on Geistown
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Geistown
Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Johnstown2.8 mi$7,110 in-state tuitionUniversity of Pittsburgh-JohnstownUniversity or college · Public · Johnstown2.8 mi$14,906 in-state tuitionCommonwealth Technical InstituteCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Johnstown4 mi$7,714 tuition
About 3 of every 100 Geistown residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Geistown
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Geistown is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,467 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1812
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,834 ft
Geistown’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Geistown.
Richland TownshipBelmontOaklandStonycreek TownshipGeistown
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geistown | — | — | B | A | A | B+ |
| Richland Township | #506 | B+ | B− | C− | A | B+ |
| Belmont | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oakland | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Stonycreek Township | #879 | C | A | — | D | C− |
Geistown has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Stonycreek Township reports no FBI crime data of its own. Belmont and Oakland aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Geistown with a neighbor →
Questions about Geistown
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Geistown, PA expensive?
The typical home is worth about $155,000, 46% below the Pennsylvania typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.