City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Altoona, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Altoona - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,211
Residents
$36,694
Median income
$137,500
Median home
$1,266
Median rent (state)

Altoona - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Altoona lands in the 6th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

6th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Altoona, AL

Altoona is a small town in Alabama, home to 1,211 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $36,694 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.0%. Home values in Altoona run a median of $137,500, and the median resident age is 41.0 years. 9.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 51.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Alabama scores 88.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,266 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $245 across Alabama, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 68.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

1,211 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$36,694 /yr

Poverty 26.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Altoona compare to other US cities?

Here's how Altoona stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Altoona against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Altoona toward the top of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Altoona ranks #67 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Altoona only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#449 of 530
15th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#39 of 556
76th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#272 of 517
47th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#67 of 556
88th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#414 of 556
25th percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

6thIncome percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Altoona's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$137,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Altoona $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Altoona, AL Altoona, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Altoona, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Altoona, AL median $36,694/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Altoona, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Altoona, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,211
Median Income
$36,694
Median Home Value
$137,500
Median Age
41.0
Poverty Rate
26.0%
Labor force participation
51.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.8%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
940 residents945 residents950 residents 202020212022202320242025 948 residents 948 residents ▲ +0.0%
Altoona's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
93.4%
Carpool
0.7%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.5%
Other
2.0%

Based on 547 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Altoona sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,266/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Gallant
1,215 people
Eclectic
1,201 people
Brookside
1,200 people
Double Springs
1,188 people
Fyffe
1,250 people
Rogersville
1,260 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Altoona's 1,211 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Brown City, MI
1,211 people
Lakeview, OH
1,211 people
Skagway, AK
1,212 people
Jones Valley, CA
1,212 people
Orange Blossom, CA
1,210 people
Pioneer, CA
1,210 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Altoona's $36,694 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Havre North, MT
$36,695 median income
Rockingham, NC
$36,695 median income
McKinley Heights, OH
$36,692 median income
Maxwell, NM
$36,691 median income
Nash, TX
$36,705 median income
Fort Pierce North, FL
$36,707 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Altoona, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Altoona, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 95.3% Black or African American 1.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 2.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Altoona compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Altoona (this city) 1,211 $36,694
Gallant 1,215 $53,698
Eclectic 1,201 $49,250
Brookside 1,200 $43,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Altoona, AL?

What is the population of Altoona, AL? +

1,211 people live in Altoona, AL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Altoona, AL? +

The median household income in Altoona is $36,694 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Altoona? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Altoona; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Altoona, AL? +

Altoona's median home value sits at $137,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.