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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Altoona

Iowa · 10,345 residents · 11.9 sq mi
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The short version

Altoona is home to 10,345 people in Iowa. The population is up 44% since 1990. That is roughly 27% ahead of the Iowa median. The median age is 32.2, younger than the US median of 35.2. The poverty rate is 5.5%, under the national 12.4%. The average commute runs 11 minutes.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.2
US median: 35.2
Average education
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

10,345
+44%since 1990
from 7,191 in 1990
1990 – 2025
32.2
+10%since 1990
from 29.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
11.9 sq mi
Population, 19902024
6K10K14K19K23K19902000201020202024Altoona
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.8%(915)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99.1%(937)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(836)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.3%(760)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.3%(551)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3416.2%(1,678)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417.1%(1,770)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.3%(1,376)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 647%(724)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.5%(470)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.5%(254)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.7%(74)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$50,162
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $35,197 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$20,336
+50%since 1990
from $13,591 in 1990
US average: $21,522
5.5%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 5.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$113,300
+38%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $62,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$559
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $433 in 1990
US average: $602
70.9%
+3.2 ptssince 1990
from 67.6% in 1990
29.1% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.1%(7,129)
Black0.9%(62)
Hispanic / Latino1%(74)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic95.2%(9,848)
Black0.9%(94)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(171)
Asian0.5%(48)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.1%(1,087)
Cuban0.4%(93)
Guatemalan0.3%(65)
Puerto Rican0.2%(34)
Panamanian0.1%(12)
Asian origin
Laotian0.7%(152)
Korean0.5%(103)
Cambodian0.3%(57)
Asian Indian0.2%(40)
Ancestry
German24%(5,151)
English15.2%(3,259)
Irish10.4%(2,233)
Dutch3.9%(828)
Norwegian3.6%(775)
American3.1%(677)
Italian3%(645)
Swedish1.7%(367)
West Indian1.6%(350)
Jamaican1.6%(350)
Scottish1.5%(332)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh1.4%(310)
French1.3%(279)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(265)
Polish1.1%(230)
Danish1%(220)
British0.7%(159)
Czech0.6%(120)
Nigerian0.3%(56)
Russian0.3%(54)
Hungarian0.2%(50)
Belgian0.2%(40)
Australian0.2%(37)
Greek0.1%(19)
Swiss0.1%(19)
Ukrainian0.1%(19)
Canadian0.1%(16)
Austrian0.1%(15)
Portuguese0.1%(13)
Serbian0.1%(11)
Latvian0%(8)
Somali0%(2)
Section 05

Education

23.8%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 20.2% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
93.1%
+4.1 ptssince 1990
from 89.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.8%
−1.9 ptssince 1990
from 6.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

11.4 min
−47%since 1990
from 21.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.6%(875)
Married66.3%(2,361)
Widowed0.7%(24)
Divorced8.5%(302)
Women 15+
Never married20.8%(851)
Married58.6%(2,393)
Widowed8.4%(344)
Divorced12.2%(499)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

2.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2013
from 4.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
68.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2020
from 70.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 15.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
16.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2020
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
78.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 80.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2020
from 30.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)21.6%(331)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)45%(689)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.9%(473)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.2%(18)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,530 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Altoona, Iowa?

Altoona, Iowa has about 10,345 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Altoona, Iowa?

The typical household in Altoona, Iowa earns about $50,162 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Altoona, Iowa expensive?

In Altoona, Iowa, the median home is worth about $113,300, and the typical rent is about $559 a month.

How educated are people in Altoona, Iowa?

About 23.8% of adults age 25 and over in Altoona, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Altoona, Iowa?

About 5.5% of people in Altoona, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Altoona, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Altoona, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,154 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →