What are the schools like in Altoona, IA?

Altoona is served primarily by Southeast Polk Comm School District. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.0:1.

What is the median household income in Altoona?

The median household income in Altoona, IA is $89,100 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Altoona, IA?

Altoona has an average high temperature of 29.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.7 inches.

Altoona, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Altoona, IA affordable or expensive?

Altoona's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Altoona is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $244,500 and the median rent is $1,140 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Altoona, IA?

Altoona has a violent crime rate of 142.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2011.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Altoona, IA a Good Place to Live?

Altoona is a small city of 20,017 in Iowa, with a median household income of $89,100 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Altoona stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 92.7

Altoona's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Altoona costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Altoona, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$244,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,140	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$89,100	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Altoona's violent crime rate is 142.7 per 100,000 residents — 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

142.7 /100k

Property Crime

2011.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Altoona is served primarily by Southeast Polk Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Altoona, IA	National Avg
School District	Southeast Polk Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	32.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Altoona sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July, with 37.3 inches of annual precipitation and 24.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Altoona, IA
Average High — January	29.5°F
Average High — July	85.7°F
Annual Precipitation	37.3"
Annual Snowfall	24.7"

Demographics

Metric	Altoona, IA	National Avg
Population	20,017	—
Median Age	36.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	26.3%	22.2%
65 and over	14.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pleasant Hill, IA 4 mi Bondurant, IA 4 mi Mitchellville, IA 6 mi Saylorville, IA 8 mi Des Moines, IA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Altoona

Altoona, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50009

Altoona vs Other Cities

Altoona, IA vs Pleasant Hill, IA Altoona, IA vs Bondurant, IA Altoona, IA vs Mitchellville, IA Altoona, IA vs Saylorville, IA Altoona, IA vs Des Moines, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Altoona, IA affordable or expensive?

Altoona's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Altoona roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $244,500 and median rent is $1,140/month.

What is the crime rate in Altoona, IA?

Altoona's violent crime rate is 142.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2011.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Altoona?

Public schools in Altoona are operated by Southeast Polk Comm School District. The district has 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 32.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Altoona, IA a good place to live?

Altoona, IA has a population of 20,017, a median household income of $89,100, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Altoona?

Altoona averages 29.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.3 inches with about 24.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Altoona?

Altoona, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50009.

What is the population of Altoona?

The population of Altoona, Iowa is 20,017 with a median age of 36.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Altoona?

Key numbers for living in Altoona: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $244,500, median household income $89,100, 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.