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Altoona

#7,282 in Best Places to Buy a House in America
  • B-
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Pennsylvania
  • 140 reviews
    B-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      C+
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      B
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      C+
    6. Diversity
      B-
    7. Jobs
      B
    8. Weather
      B+
    9. Cost of Living
      B+
    10. Health & Fitness
      B
    11. Outdoor Activities
      B+
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Altoona is a town in Pennsylvania with a population of 44,749. Altoona is in Blair County. Living in Altoona offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Altoona there are a lot of bars, restaurants, and parks. Many families live in Altoona and residents tend to be conservative.
    Population
    44,749

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $87,600
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $623
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      37%
    • Own
      63%
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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.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      155.1
      282.7
    • Murder
      6.8
      6.1
    • Rape
      152.8
      40.7
    • Robbery
      61.6
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      428.8
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,058.4
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      77.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    B-
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      12%
    • 10-17 years
      10%
    • 18-24 years
      9%
    • 25-34 years
      13%
    • 35-44 years
      13%
    • 45-54 years
      12%
    • 55-64 years
      13%
    • 65+ years
      16%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      6%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      12%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      24%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      47%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      11%
      13%

    Working in Altoona

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $38,592
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Altoona
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    Altoona Reviews

    140 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!
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    Altoona is an average city with a lot of history - such as the Horseshoe Curve and Railroader's Memorial Museum. We have great restaurants - most of them, though, chains. Many parts of Altoona are considered "ghetto", but many parts are also nice, family oriented, quiet neighborhoods. There are many things to do when visiting Altoona. You can visit our exciting amusement parks, one is home to the world's oldest surviving roller coaster. Altoona also has so much outdoor activities. Visit the skate park, go hiking on one of our hundreds of trails. Don't forget about water sports. Raystown Lake is 30 minutes away and offers SO much! Altoona is not the ideal city, but one can consider this place home very quickly.
    I have lived here all of my life and its just your average town in Pennsylvania. I feel some better fast food places, restaurants, and places for teens to go to do something fun. I feel it could be more fun overall. The town has great potential to be great!