Best Places to Live in Altoona Metro Area, Pennsylvania

Small city - South-central Pennsylvania along the main Allegheny Mountain ridge. August, July and June are the most pleasant months in the Altoona metro area, while January and February are the least comfortable months.

State: Pennsylvania
County:
Metro Area: Altoona Metro Area
City: Altoona, Logan township (Blair Cnty), 33 total

Zip Codes: 16601, 16602, 16648, 16686, 16635, 16662, 16673, 16693, 16625, 16617, 14 total
Cost of Living: -21.7% lower
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Elevation: 1320 ft above sea level

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Altoona, PA Housing Market

Least Expensive Homes	Homes Over 2,000 Sq. Ft.
Median Home Value	Homes less than 10 yrs old
Most Expensive Homes	All Single Family Homes

Pros
Cost of living
Nearby mountains
Historic interest

Cons
Isolation
Weak economy
Low ethnic diversity

What Bert Has To Say About Altoona Metro Area

Altoona is a historic railroad town and transportation gateway. Its roots are as a company town for the Pennsylvania Railroad, still a major artery today. But after the railroad ceased to be an independent entity, the town’s shops and facilities, which once employed 15,000, went into permanent decline. Its role as a transportation gateway likewise declined when the Pennsylvania Turnpike bypassed the area by 50 miles. A modest amount of light industry has taken the railroad’s place and Interstate 99 now does connect the area with the major east-west Turnpike.

Highlights

ECONOMY

The unemployment rate in Altoona Metro Area is 6.7% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%). Recent job growth is Negative. Altoona Metro Area jobs have decreased by 0.2%. More Economy

COST OF LIVING

Compared to the rest of the country, Altoona Metro Area's cost of living is 21.7% lower than the U.S. average. More Cost of Living or Compare Altoona Metro Area's Cost of Living

WEATHER & CLIMATE

August, July and June are the most pleasant months in the Altoona metro area, while January and February are the least comfortable months. Today's Weather | Climate Averages

VOTING

In the last Presidential election, the Altoona metro area remained overwhelmingly Republican, 71.1% to 27.7%. More Voting Stats

POPULATION

Altoona Metro Area's population is 121,007 people. Since 2020, it has had a population decline of 1.8%. Learn More...

TRANSPORTATION

Average Commute time is 20.1 minutes. The National Average is 26.4 minutes. Learn More...

REAL ESTATE

The median home cost in Altoona Metro Area is Real Estate: $129,700. Home appreciation the last 10 years has been -0.8%.

SCHOOLS

Altoona Metro Area public schools spend $11,952 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $12,383. There are about 15.6 students per teacher in Altoona Metro Area. More Education

Best Places to Live in Altoona Rankings

#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

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Housing Market in Altoona

It's a good time to buy in Altoona. Home Appreciation is up 4.9% in the last 12 months.
The median home price in Altoona is $129,700.

Real Estate: See Homes

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MAPS OF ALTOONA METRO AREA, PENNSYLVANIA

ZIP CODES IN ALTOONA METRO AREA, PENNSYLVANIA

16601, 16602, 16648, 16686, 16635, 16662, 16673, 16693, 16625, 16617, 14 total

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United States / Pennsylvania / Altoona Metro Area / Counties / Cities / Zip Codes