United States › Pennsylvania › Altoona CITY
Altoona Pennsylvania · 42,347 residents (2025 est.) · 9.79 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Altoona is home to 43,196 people in Pennsylvania. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $119,900. That trails the Pennsylvania median by roughly 34%. 2% of residents were born outside the United States. Density works out to 4,412 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 49,523 in 2000
42,347 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
4,412 / sq mi
−7%since 2009
from 4,754 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
42K 45K 48K 50K 53K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Altoona Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $51,250
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,248 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,213 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
Education & health services 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$119,900
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$819
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $381 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 65.9% in 2000
36.1% rent
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.6%(47,342)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(367)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 88%(38,028)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(682)
from 13 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 82.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 69.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 16.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 36.7%(6,433)
Women 15+
Never married 32.6%(5,936)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 33.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 62.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 49.8% 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) 23.9%(668)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.1%(590)
Share of the 2,792 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
Drill deeper
Places similar to Altoona Head to head
Compare Altoona to nearby cities ALTOONA VS
Johnstown
Income $37,888 −26%
Home value $45,400 −62%
Population 17,654 −58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALTOONA VS
Park Forest
Income $79,120 +54%
Home value $389,600 +225%
Population 8,624 −80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALTOONA VS
State College
Income $45,424 −11%
Home value $437,800 +265%
Population 40,844 −4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALTOONA VS
Indiana
Income $40,857 −20%
Home value $135,600 +13%
Population 14,697 −65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Altoona, Pennsylvania? Altoona, Pennsylvania has about 43,196 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Altoona, Pennsylvania? The typical household in Altoona, Pennsylvania earns about $51,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Altoona, Pennsylvania expensive? In Altoona, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $119,900, and the typical rent is about $819 a month.
How educated are people in Altoona, Pennsylvania? About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Altoona, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Altoona, Pennsylvania? About 16.6% of people in Altoona, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.
Has Altoona, Pennsylvania grown since 1990? Yes, Altoona, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,685 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 