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METRO AREA

Altoona Metro

Altoona, PA · 1 counties · 119,541 residents (2025 est.) · 525.067 sq mi
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The short version

Altoona has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $62,382. Population has declined 6% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $161,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% 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

Total population
121,277
−6%since 2000
from 129,144 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
231 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 246 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.1
+9%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:119,541 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
120K123K126K129K131K1990201020202024Altoona
2024121K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,382
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,861 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,639
+113%since 2000
from $16,743 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.7%
+21.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
+1%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,100
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$885
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
27.6% rent
Vacancy rate
9.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+19%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Altoona on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(125,641)
Black1.2%(1,495)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(662)
Asian0.4%(461)
Other0%
Diversity Score5%(6,495)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(111,091)
Black1.9%(2,293)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(1,925)
Asian0.7%(849)
Other4.2%(5,119)
Diversity Score19.8%(24,026)
Segregation Score28.2%(34,213)
Diversity Score
20
+294%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
28
−12%since 2020
from 32 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.4%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.8%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+57%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.6%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.7%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−84.6 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.2%
+13.9 ptssince 2017
from 72.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 97.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

AltoonaCENTRAL42,347
What's inside

1 component county

Blair CountyCENTRAL119,541
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Altoona

Goldsboro
Pop 122,278
Lawton
Pop 127,590
St. Simons
Pop 118,524
Battle Creek
Pop 133,408
Places similar to Altoona
Head to head

Compare Altoona side by side

ALTOONA VS
Goldsboro
Income$59,733−4%
Home value$178,700+11%
Population122,278+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALTOONA VS
Lawton
Income$60,660−3%
Home value$161,650same
Population127,590+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALTOONA VS
St. Simons
Income$66,040+6%
Home value$257,539+60%
Population118,524−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALTOONA VS
Battle Creek
Income$63,177+1%
Home value$162,800+1%
Population133,408+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Altoona, PA?

Altoona, PA has about 121,277 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Altoona, PA?

The typical household in Altoona, PA earns about $62,382 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Altoona, PA expensive?

In Altoona, PA, the median home is worth about $161,100, and the typical rent is about $885 a month.

How educated are people in Altoona, PA?

About 24.4% of adults age 25 and over in Altoona, PA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Altoona, PA?

About 12.0% of people in Altoona, PA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Altoona, PA grown since 1990?

Yes, Altoona, PA has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 9,265 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →