Real Estate Investing in Lilly, Pennsylvania (15938)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Cambria County • Population: 2,307 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15938 (Lilly, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Declining values: -6.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 13.7% in the last year.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lilly, PA (15938)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $123,621
Avg Monthly Rent $945
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,434
% Renters 10.0%

Market Analysis: 15938 Lilly

This part of Cambria County is not an easy win. The 15938 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 15938 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 15938's metrics run below Cambria County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The demographic picture in 15938 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lilly averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 15938 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lilly:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-13.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $945/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Johnstown, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Johnstown, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$196K$180K$164K$148K$133K$117KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15938 Compare?

Metric 15938 Lilly Johnstown, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $123,621 $123,621 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $945 $945 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.0% 6.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15938? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 15938 (Lilly, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
-6.8%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Johnstown, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $123,621
Monthly Rent $945
Price-to-Rent 10.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.2%
Cap Rate 6.0%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -13.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -12.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -6.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-6.8%
Declining
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15938

Population: 2,307

💰 Median Household Income
$61,434
This area
$61,434
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.7%
This area
17.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.9 years
This area
46.9 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.7%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 15938

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,395 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Penn Cambria Primary Sch

📚 01 – 02 Elementary
👥
184 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,395 Per Student
A Very Good

Penn Cambria Intrmd Sch

📚 03 – 04 Elementary
👥
194 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,395 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

7 Nearby 417 Off-Campus Students
C
Mount Aloysius College
2,967 students · 2.6 mi
C+
Saint Francis University
2,835 students · 6.1 mi
C+
The Salon Professional Academy-Altoona
66 students · 11.1 mi
C
YTI Career Institute-Altoona
112 students · 11.6 mi
C+
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
174 students · 12.4 mi
C
Altoona Beauty School Inc
80 students · 12.7 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
2,421 students · 13.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tenant pool like in Lilly, PA?

The tenant pool in Lilly, PA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $945/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What strategy should investors use in Lilly, PA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Lilly, PA best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $124K price point.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Lilly, PA?

Typical homes in Lilly, PA go for around $124K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

What does house hacking look like in Lilly, PA?

For house hackers, Lilly, PA is a challenging. The $945/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $124K property.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Lilly, PA?

Lilly, PA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 15938 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 15938 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 15938 ranks in Johnstown, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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