Altoona is a small town of 1,358 in Alabama, with a median household income of $38,750
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is
17% below the national average.
Strengths:
Altoona stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Altoona is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Altoona city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 83.2
Altoona's overall cost of living index is 83.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Altoona costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.
Metric
Altoona, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$111,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$382
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Altoona's violent crime rate is 237.6 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
237.6 /100k
Property Crime
1252.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Altoona is served primarily by Etowah County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Altoona, AL
National Avg
School District
Etowah County
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Altoona sees average highs of 53.2°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 58.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Altoona's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Altoona roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $111,900 and median rent is $382/month.
Altoona's violent crime rate is 237.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1252.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Altoona are operated by Etowah County.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 8.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Altoona, AL has a population of 1,358, a median household income of $38,750, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Altoona averages 53.2°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.8 inches
with about 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Altoona, Alabama is 1,358 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Altoona: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $111,900, median household income $38,750, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Altoona side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.