City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Altoona, IA

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.

20,592
Residents
$87,123
Median income
$257,300
Median home
$1,318
Median rent (state)

Altoona - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Altoona places in the 68th percentile for household income and the 28th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

68th
percentile, household income
57th
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
28th
percentile, safety
📝 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, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 20,592 residents in Altoona, a small city within Iowa. Median household income here is $87,123 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.8%. Typical homes in Altoona are valued around $257,300, and the median resident age is 35.5 years. Educational attainment runs 32.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 184 residential building permits were authorized in Altoona (Slowing), down 21% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2154.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,318 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Altoona report an average commute of 20.5 minutes, with 79.6% driving alone and 12.7% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 92.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

20,592 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$87,123 /yr

Poverty 3.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa 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 68% higher than other cities
Home value 57% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities
Safety 28% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Iowa, Altoona ranks #122 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Altoona's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 849 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Altoona ranks #64 - the 92nd 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
#111 of 845
87th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#34 of 858
90th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#64 of 849
92nd percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#565 of 858
33rd percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#97 of 858
88th percentile in Iowa

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 Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

68thIncome percentile
28thSafety percentile

68th percentile nationally for median household income · 28th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Altoona's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Altoona's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Altoona's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Altoona's home value compares nationally

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

$257,300 43rd percentile more affordable than 43% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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, IA Altoona, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Altoona, IA-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, IA median $87,123/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, IA'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, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.5%

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

Population
20,592
Median Income
$87,123
Median Home Value
$257,300
Median Age
35.5
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Labor force participation
67.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2154.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
142.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2011.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
19,000 residents20,000 residents21,000 residents22,000 residents23,000 residents24,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 19,742 residents 22,796 residents ▲ +15.5%
Altoona's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
184
housing units authorized
Single-Family
184
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 232
2020 546
2021 439
2022 150
2023 139
2024 184

Permit volume decreased 21% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.5 minutes
Drive Alone
79.6%
Carpool
4.9%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
12.7%
Other
2.3%

Based on 10,383 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa 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 Iowa 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
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,318/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

North Liberty
20,782 people
Clive
18,776 people
Coralville
22,846 people
Muscatine
23,567 people
Burlington
23,800 people
Johnston
24,196 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Altoona's 20,592 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Arlington, WA
20,599 people
Pleasantville, NJ
20,604 people
Pittsburg, KS
20,606 people
Bethany, OK
20,606 people
Parma Heights, OH
20,616 people
Shafter, CA
20,618 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Altoona's $87,123 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mammoth Lakes, CA
$87,121 median income
Brook Highland, AL
$87,143 median income
East Dundee, IL
$87,102 median income
Johnson, AR
$87,150 median income
Dexter, MN
$87,083 median income
Savage, MT
$87,083 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Altoona, IA 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, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.9% White 88.7% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 4.8% 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 Iowa 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) 20,592 $87,123
North Liberty 20,782 $103,933
Clive 18,776 $131,082
Coralville 22,846 $66,508
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Altoona, IA?

What is the population of Altoona, IA? +

The population of Altoona, IA stands at 20,592 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Altoona is $87,123 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 Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

Is Altoona, IA safe? +

Altoona has a total crime rate of 2154.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Homes in Altoona carry a median value of $257,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.