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Living in
Altoona.
About
Life in Altoona
Altoona offers genuinely affordable living by national standards—median home values around $119,900 and rents near $819 a month—which is the biggest draw for people seriously considering a move here. The job market is decent with a 4.1% unemployment rate and solid healthcare sector growth, though the economy has clearly shifted from its railroad heyday; don't expect the kind of high-wage manufacturing jobs that built this place. Your commute will likely be short at under 19 minutes on average, and the downtown is experiencing real revitalization with Penn State Altoona investing in historic buildings and local shops maintaining pedestrian-friendly spaces.
Altoona at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Altoona: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Altoona, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (17.3%), and 0.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.1%
of households
Married Couples
37.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 32% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Altoona
In Altoona, rent runs 32% below the PA average, and home values are 53% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,369
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1944
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $140,228 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Altoona
Unemployment in Altoona is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Altoona Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.9 min avg
How Altoona residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Altoona, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Altoona Blair County Airport (AOO)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 96 mi
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Medium hub4.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M 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 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Altoona runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
285.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,531.8
per 100,000 residents
About 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 Low
77.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Blair County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Blair 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 | $273,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Winter Weather | $2.1M |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $53,000 |
| 2022 | 11 | Winter Storm | $39,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $53,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7,000 |
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
Blair County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Blair County, which includes Altoona, is typically good — 279 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
279
per year
Moderate Days
83
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Blair County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Altoona has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.7"
Annual Snowfall
38.1"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
158
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 19°F | 2.94" |
| Feb | 37°F | 20°F | 2.65" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 3.49" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.78" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 4.41" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.24" |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 4.18" |
| Aug | 80°F | 60°F | 3.86" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 4.33" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 3.84" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 3.63" |
| Dec | 38°F | 24°F | 3.37" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Altoona
Altoona has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center (altoona)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration
Upmc Altoona
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Conemaugh Nason Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Roaring Spring
Penn Highlands Tyrone
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.9 mi away · Tyrone
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Altoona
Altoona's student/teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Altoona
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Public · 4-year · 2,367 students · in-state tuition $16,004 · 19% graduate · median earnings $71,762 (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 & Recreationclosest: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Altoona
Altoona has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayJohnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
23 mi awayFlight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
40 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
68 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
77 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
78 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
78 mi awayFort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in Altoona
Altoona Area Public Library
1600 Fifth Avenue, 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, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Altoona's median rent is $819/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,250/year. Median home value is $119,900.
Is Altoona, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Altoona's violent crime rate was 285 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1532 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Altoona, Pennsylvania?⌄
Altoona has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Altoona, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Altoona is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $819/month and median household income is $51,250/year. The median home value is $119,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Altoona, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Altoona is 18 minutes, which is shorter than 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