2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Salem, OR vs Altoona, PA

#7 Where to Live to Avoid a Natural Disaster (Lowest Risk)

#7 Safest Places from Natural Disasters

#15 Best Cities for Teleworking - Small Metro Areas

#54 Best Green Cities

#72 High Gas Prices - Which Cities are Hit the Hardest?

#82 2005 High Gas Prices

#100 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#141 2005 Best Places to Live

#11 Most Secure Places to Live 2011 (Small Towns)

#22 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Smallest Metro Areas)

#70 America's Most (and Least) Stressful Cities (117 Smallest Metro Areas)

#112 2005 Best Places to Live

#158 Best Green Cities

After reading the reviews here, I had to come write my own. The problem I had with most of the reviews is that most were very opinion-based and seemed to assume everyone  More

Moved here approx. 4 years ago from SW Michigan, but I've lived in 9 other cities & 5 other states. Salem is a very manageable sized city, with tons of parks, diverse  More

I'm a native 5th generation Oregonian, so bear in mind that I was born with webs between my toes! Anyway, I used to think it rained too much when I was young. Then I  More

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

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

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