Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★4.7 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Altoona, PA
Explore Altoona and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match7.1 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Altoona at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population43,196
Median Household Income$51,250
Median Home Value$119,900
Median Gross Rent$819
Median Age40.4
Average Household Size2.2
Unemployment6.8%
Work From Home7.0%
Homeownership63.9%
Housing Vacancy11.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Altoona is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Home values are relatively modest compared with local household income, giving the area a comparatively favorable ownership-affordability signal.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Altoona Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Altoona →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Altoona and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Altoona
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$119,900
Median Gross Rent$819
Homeownership63.9%
Housing Vacancy11.8%
Home values are comparatively balanced against local household income, although individual neighborhoods can still vary substantially. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Altoona, PA
Median Household Income$51,250
Unemployment6.8%
Work From Home7.0%
The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Altoona and how households are structured
Population43,196
Median Age40.4
Average Household Size2.2
Altoona is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Altoona
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Altoona point to warm summers, cold winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and substantial annual snowfall.
Average Summer High81.4°F
Average Winter Low18.8°F
Annual Rainfall44.7 in.
Annual Snowfall38.1 in.
Seasonal Life in Altoona
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.
Summer
Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Altoona is located in Blair County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Blair County. Current county foreclosure activity is classified as medium, adding another housing-market signal for buyers comparing conventional and distressed-property opportunities.
County Intelligence
Altoona & Blair County
Medium
Foreclosure Activity
Altoona is located in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Altoona.
Current NarrowTheList data for Altoona shows a population of about 43,196. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Medium. Current signal uses NarrowTheList foreclosure-opportunity data until direct county delinquency and foreclosure datasets are connected.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
Blair County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Altoona.
For someone considering a move to Altoona, the available data currently points to comparatively attainable ownership costs relative to local income. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.