What are the schools like in Altoona, PA?

Altoona is served primarily by Altoona Area SD. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Altoona?

The median household income in Altoona, PA is $50,435 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.

What is the weather like in Altoona, PA?

Altoona has an average high temperature of 33.8°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Altoona, PA affordable or expensive?

Altoona's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Altoona is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,700 and the median rent is $795 per month.

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

Altoona has a violent crime rate of 334.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1850.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Altoona, PA a Good Place to Live?

Altoona is a small city of 43,821 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $50,435 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% 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: 91.8

Altoona's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Altoona costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Altoona, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$795	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,435	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Altoona's violent crime rate is 334.7 per 100,000 residents — 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

334.7 /100k

Property Crime

1850.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Altoona is served primarily by Altoona Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Altoona, PA	National Avg
School District	Altoona Area SD	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Altoona sees average highs of 33.8°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 44.7 inches of annual precipitation and 38.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Altoona, PA
Average High — January	33.8°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	44.7"
Annual Snowfall	38.1"

Demographics

Metric	Altoona, PA	National Avg
Population	43,821	—
Median Age	39.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	21.7%	22.2%
65 and over	17.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Newburg, PA 1 mi Mill Run, PA 2 mi Red Hill, PA 2 mi Eldorado, PA 3 mi Lakemont, PA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Altoona

Altoona, PA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

16602 16601

Altoona vs Other Cities

Altoona, PA vs Newburg, PA Altoona, PA vs Mill Run, PA Altoona, PA vs Red Hill, PA Altoona, PA vs Eldorado, PA Altoona, PA vs Lakemont, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Altoona, PA affordable or expensive?

Altoona's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Altoona roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,700 and median rent is $795/month.

What is the crime rate in Altoona, PA?

Altoona's violent crime rate is 334.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1850.4 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 Altoona Area SD. The district has 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Altoona, PA a good place to live?

Altoona, PA has a population of 43,821, a median household income of $50,435, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. 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 33.8°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.7 inches with about 38.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Altoona?

Altoona, PA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 16602, 16601.

What is the population of Altoona?

The population of Altoona, Pennsylvania is 43,821 with a median age of 39.7. 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 92 (100 = US average), median home $110,700, median household income $50,435, crime index 88 (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.