United States › Pennsylvania › Altoona CITY · 2020 ACS
Altoona Pennsylvania · 43,963 residents · 9.79 sq mi
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The short version
Altoona is a city of 43,963 people in Pennsylvania. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $92,900. 1% of residents were born outside the United States. Households here earn about 34% less than in Pennsylvania as a whole. The poverty rate is 21.3%, above the 12.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
42K 45K 48K 50K 53K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Altoona Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,244
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,248 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,213 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Transportation & warehousing 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Public administration 1.5%
Education & health services 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
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$92,900
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$701
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $381 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 65.9% in 2000
38.1% rent
2.30 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.6%(47,342)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(367)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 88.2%(38,784)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(770)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 82.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 12.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 23.6%(755)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.8%(664)
Share of the 3,199 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Altoona Head to head
Compare Altoona to nearby cities ALTOONA VS
Johnstown
Income $37,888 −10%
Home value $45,400 −51%
Population 17,654 −58%
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ALTOONA VS
Park Forest
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Home value $389,600 +319%
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ALTOONA VS
State College
Income $45,424 +8%
Home value $437,800 +371%
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ALTOONA VS
Indiana
Income $40,857 −3%
Home value $135,600 +46%
Population 14,697 −65%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Altoona, Pennsylvania? Altoona, Pennsylvania has about 43,963 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Altoona, Pennsylvania? The typical household in Altoona, Pennsylvania earns about $42,244 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 $92,900, and the typical rent is about $701 a month.
How educated are people in Altoona, Pennsylvania? About 18.1% 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 21.3% 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 7,918 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.
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