The Town FilesAltoona, Pennsylvania
City in Blair County · population 43,963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,900
- Household income
- $51,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.4
Altoona is a city of 43,963 people in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $119,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Altoona ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Altoona is worth $119,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $51,250, which is more affordable than 79% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 63.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altoona | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $819 | $996 |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Altoona
| People | Altoona | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Altoona
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 44.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altoona since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1980 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 19, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 3, 2023.
Severe weather in Blair County since 1996
Blair County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Blair County
Blair County had 58,025 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,266 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Altoona itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Altoona
12 public schools with 7,066 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona Area HS | 6-12 | 2,246 | 16.2 |
| Altoona Area Jr HS | 6-8 | 1,614 | 12.5 |
| Juniata Gap El Sch | K-5 | 523 | 14.5 |
| Pleasant Valley El Sch | K-5 | 466 | 13.3 |
| Juniata El Sch | K-5 | 452 | 12.9 |
| Logan El Sch | K-5 | 438 | 13.3 |
| Mowrie A Ebner El Sch | K-5 | 386 | 12.5 |
| Penn-Lincoln El Sch | K-5 | 353 | 9.8 |
| Irving El Sch | K-5 | 271 | 15.9 |
| Baker El Sch | K-5 | 270 | 13.5 |
| Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center | 9-12 | 47 | 1.5 |
| Kimmel Alternative School | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Altoona
- Logan, PA1.9 mi · 12,413 people · home $165,000
- Greenwood, PA3.2 mi · 3,114 people · home $140,300
- Hollidaysburg, PA5.3 mi · 5,641 people · home $196,100
- Allegheny, PA5.5 mi · 6,585 people · home $169,300
- Frankstown, PA6.3 mi · 7,399 people · home $263,600
- Blair, PA7.5 mi · 4,783 people · home $229,400
- Antis, PA9.4 mi · 6,478 people · home $183,600
- Cresson, PA10.4 mi · 2,839 people · home $167,100
Altoona questions
Is Altoona, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altoona scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 8%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Altoona?
The median owner-occupied home in Altoona is valued at $119,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,250, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Altoona?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Altoona get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altoona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1980. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)