Town
- Public SchoolsC+
- Crime & SafetyC
- HousingB-
- NightlifeA-
- Good for FamiliesB-
- DiversityB-
- JobsB
- WeatherB
- Cost of LivingA-
- Health & FitnessB+
- Outdoor ActivitiesB+
- CommuteA-
Real Estate
Median Home Value
$88,600
National
$184,700Median Rent
$685
National
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Altoona Rankings
Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.
Crime & Safety
Crime & Safety
C
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Residents
Working in Altoona
Jobs
B
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$40,536
National
$55,322Altoona Reviews
149 reviews
All Categories
I thoroughly enjoyed Altoona while I was living there! I felt everything was within driving distance and had a variety of everything! The mall was fantastic and better than other area malls like State College. The availability of different activities is also pretty diverse as well. You can go to Canoe Creek to swim, or go bowling, or stop into the Jaffa when there are events like the circus! The Penn State campus located there is charming and easy to navigate, found with a 2-minute drive off the main road, and yet nature is all over! You have significant facilities located in Altoona as well from the UPMC hospital to an Amtrak/Greyhound station, and three ramps from Interstate 99! Altoona even has a Minor League Baseball stadium! Altoona is steeped in rich history and a plethora of hidden gems throughout. I love it!
I love living here! Very clean, inexpensive, and a good environment to raise kids in. When living here, it is a pretty safe environment. It is easy to get starting-out jobs here because we have a good amount of businesses.
Altoona has a lot of restaurants and fast food places all over town. There are some nice neighborhoods, but also a good amount of bad ones. The downtown area has significantly improved over the years and many new cute shops and cafes are being added. I attended high school in Altoona, and I think the school board could do a much better job caring about their students. Altoona is overall an average town. There's some things to do, but if you are into more of an exciting fast-paced city life like I am, then there are definitely other places to consider living.