Population 4,531 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Altoona: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Altoona
Household size in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.74 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.81 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Altoona average 2.81 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Household size has climbed from 2.70 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.0 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
At 41.0, the median age in Altoona is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.0% of households in Altoona, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Altoona
Renters in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.8% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Altoona is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 62.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.5% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Altoona: 17.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Altoona are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $477 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $631 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $617 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $751 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$274 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Altoona pays $751 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 26.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Altoona
Bachelor's degrees in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Altoona: 12.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.1% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 71.6% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.5% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.8% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in five adults in Altoona never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Altoona
| Period | Altoona | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Altoona: 10.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Altoona compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | 2.81 | 41.0 | 7.0% | 18.7% | 17.5% | 1983 | $751 | 12.7% | 78.8% | 10.2% |
| Walnut Grove | 2.63 | 44.8 | 11.4% | 26.0% | 20.6% | 1983 | $491 | 13.3% | 74.5% | 7.9% |
| Harrisville | 2.64 | 43.8 | 5.9% | 13.2% | 19.5% | 1982 | $547 | 14.7% | 83.6% | 4.0% |
| Gallant | 2.44 | 49.9 | 6.7% | 4.5% | 13.8% | 1978 | $687 | 15.8% | 85.3% | 2.2% |
| Wynnville | 2.53 | 44.6 | 2.2% | 14.7% | 6.5% | 1977 | $700 | 22.1% | 77.8% | 10.1% |
| Egypt | 2.84 | 39.7 | 10.8% | 23.5% | 16.6% | 1984 | $797 | 13.1% | 84.1% | 14.1% |
| Snead | 2.84 | 35.7 | 11.5% | 22.4% | 11.4% | 1985 | $739 | 12.1% | 74.3% | 2.0% |
| Hoods Crossroads | 2.11 | 49.2 | 8.7% | 48.4% | 7.5% | 1990 | $651 | 21.2% | 74.0% | 8.2% |
| Douglas | 3.14 | 35.7 | 8.3% | 26.8% | 12.5% | 1989 | $820 | 14.5% | 80.9% | 2.1% |
| Susan Moore | 3.07 | 37.9 | 1.1% | 19.7% | 8.8% | 1979 | $744 | 18.8% | 73.4% | 2.2% |
| Taits Gap | 2.21 | 53.8 | 6.6% | 18.2% | 17.7% | 1985 | $638 | 15.1% | 89.8% | 23.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Prescott, AR · Dwight, IL · New Franken, WI · Sloatsburg, NY · Shickshinny, PA · Leavittsburg, OH · Nowata, OK · Deale, MD · Cold Spring, NY · Copperopolis, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Altoona. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.