The Town FilesAltoona, Wisconsin
City in Eau Claire County · population 8,293 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,100
- Household income
- $84,552
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 37.5
Altoona is a city of 8,293 people in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $233,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Wisconsin towns.
How Altoona ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Altoona is worth $233,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $84,552, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,285 a month. 51.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altoona | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,285 | $951 |
| Median household income | $84,552 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 51.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Altoona
| People | Altoona | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Altoona
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 7.9°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altoona since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 74 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Eau Claire County since 1996
Eau Claire County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 1993 | Severe Storm | DR-994: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Eau Claire County
Eau Claire County had 58,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,079 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Altoona itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Altoona
4 public schools with 1,832 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona Elementary | PK-3 | 597 | 12.7 |
| Altoona High | 9-12 | 580 | 15.3 |
| Altoona Middle | 6-8 | 394 | 12.3 |
| Altoona Intermediate | 4-5 | 261 | 13.7 |
Towns near Altoona
- Eau Claire, WI3.0 mi · 69,421 people · home $247,600
- Washington, WI4.5 mi · 7,662 people · home $367,300
- Seymour, WI5.2 mi · 3,352 people · home $320,200
- Lake Hallie, WI6.4 mi · 7,170 people · home $292,100
- Union, WI7.9 mi · 2,696 people · home $307,000
- Wheaton, WI9.4 mi · 2,759 people · home $302,900
- Chippewa Falls, WI9.6 mi · 14,731 people · home $210,400
- Pleasant Valley, WI9.7 mi · 3,791 people · home $452,400
Altoona questions
Is Altoona, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altoona scores better for retirees than 6% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 1%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Altoona?
The median owner-occupied home in Altoona is valued at $233,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,552, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,285 a month.
What is the weather like in Altoona?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 7.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54.0 inches of snow.
Does Altoona get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altoona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1958. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)