2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Altoona, PA vs Bethesda, MD

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Highlights
Are people in Bethesda older or younger than people in Altoona?
- The Median Age in Bethesda is 3.4 years older than in Altoona.

Are housing costs cheaper in Bethesda or Altoona?
- Bethesda housing costs are 797.9% more expensive than Altoona housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Bethesda or Altoona?
- The average commute for residents of Bethesda is 11.3 minutes longer than it is for residents of Altoona.

Things to do in Altoona?
Altoona, Pennsylvania lies within Blair County giving visitors access to Adventure Lagoon Water Park or Baker Mansion plus multiple restaurants like Chewy's Pizza & Wings Bar & Grill

Things to do in Bethesda?
Bethesda, Maryland is an incredible city located just northwest of Washington D.C. This beautiful city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the stunning Glen Echo Park or the charming Cabin John Regional Park. Residents here also take advantage of all the outdoor activities available at Acorn Urban Park, Little Falls Creek Stream Valley, and Capital Crescent Trail. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Bethesda their home.

 Altoona, PABethesda, MDUnited States
 Population  Unlock66,294329,725,481
 Median Income$46,010  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock4338.4
 Avg. Home Price$119,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.96  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Altoona    11 Reviews

Sun rises and sets over 2000+ ft. mountains, which does seem to shorten your summer days. It gets hot and humid in the summer, with not a lot of wind or airflow,  More

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Over 5 years ago

Though the climate in Altoona is cold in the Winter, it does often get less snow than Western Pennsylvania because of the Allegheny Front mountain range just to the west  More

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I grew up in Hollidaysburg near Altoona. The city has had its ups and downs throughout the years but all in all I think that central PA has the most beautiful scenery  More

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Reviews for Bethesda    12 Reviews

Bethesda is awesome if you want to live near DC and in a relatively safe city that has few parking issues. Montgomery county has parking lots in downtown Bethesda and  More

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Amenities are plentiful, but costs continue to rise as do local and state taxes. Overall not a friendly place to  More

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Essentially an upscale suburb of Washington DC. Public transport is easy, there's plenty to do (though with none of the edginess of living closer in DC) and it's minutes  More

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