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Living in
Altoona.
About
Life in Altoona
With nearly 20,600 residents and strong growth over the past decade, Altoona feels like a place where people actually want to stay rather than pass through. While the area does host Adventureland and Prairie Meadows, what really matters to someone considering a move here is that the job market is genuinely solid—unemployment sits at just 3.7%—and you're positioned right in the Des Moines metro, so finding work doesn't mean betting everything on tourism or a single employer. Housing is genuinely affordable compared to national standards, with median home values around $274,600 and rent averaging $1,235 a month, while median household income is a healthy $86,114; that math actually works for families and individuals trying to build equity without drowning in a mortgage.
Altoona at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Foreign-Born
5.0%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
+15.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.0% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Altoona: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Altoona, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (21.0%), and 2.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.6%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.5%
of households
Married Couples
48.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 27% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Altoona
In Altoona, rent runs 27% above the IA average, and home values are 32% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,392
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $321,550 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Altoona and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Altoona, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Altoona: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Altoona is about 4% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Altoona Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area
Commute22.5 min avg
How Altoona residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Altoona, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 44% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Altoona runs 44% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
184
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,398.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Altoona Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Altoona, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,200 |
| 2024 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 26 | Hail | $75.4M |
| 2021 | 20 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 42 | Hail | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Altoona is about 4% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes Altoona, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Polk County, county-wide
Altoona is about 4% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Altoona has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
24.7"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
150
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 12°F | 0.97" |
| Feb | 34°F | 16°F | 0.99" |
| Mar | 47°F | 27°F | 2.01" |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 4.00" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 5.26" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.37" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 4.72" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.62" |
| Oct | 64°F | 41°F | 2.67" |
| Nov | 48°F | 29°F | 1.86" |
| Dec | 35°F | 18°F | 1.39" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Altoona
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Altoona's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Des Moines
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Des Moines
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Altoona
Altoona's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Altoona (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,543 students · in-state tuition $52,130 · 78% graduate · median earnings $78,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,486 students · in-state tuition $36,136 · 61% graduate · median earnings $58,718 (10 yrs after entry)
Mercy College of Health Sciences
8.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
9.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 405 students · in-state tuition $21,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $41,000 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Altoona
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Altoona
Altoona Public Library
700 Eighth St Sw, Altoona
Cities Near Altoona
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Altoona?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Altoona FAQ
Is Altoona, Iowa affordable?⌄
Altoona's median rent is $1,235/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $86,114/year. Median home value is $274,600.
Is Altoona, Iowa safe?⌄
Altoona's violent crime rate was 184 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1399 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Altoona, Iowa?⌄
Polk County, which includes Altoona, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Altoona, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Altoona is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,235/month and median household income is $86,114/year. The median home value is $274,600. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Altoona, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Altoona is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from