Livability Score

78
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities F

There are not many amenities close to this location.
Coffee (1) F
Boba Tea
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (3) F
Railroaders Memorial Museum
Museum
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
Museum
Mansion Park Stadium
Stadium
People's Natural Gas Field
Stadium
Kryptonite nightclub
Nightclub
Leap-The-Dips
Theme Park
Lakemont Park & The Island Water Park
Theme Park
AMC Classic Logan Valley 8
Cinema
Holiday Bowl
Bowling Alley
AMC
Cinema
Food and Drink (26) D-
Boyer Candy Factory Outlet
Sweets
McDonald's
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
Black & Gold Tavern
Bar
Best Way Pizza
Fast Food
Wine & Spirits
Alcohol
Dairy Queen
Fast Food
Concession Stand
Fast Food
Taco Bell
Fast Food
Blair Candy Company
Sweets
Fine Wine & Good Spirits
Alcohol
Little Caesars
Fast Food
Kettle Inn
Bar
sweetFrog
Sweets
Chipotle
Fast Food
Family Pizza & Pub
Bar
Burger King
Fast Food
DQ Grill & Chill
Fast Food
Panera Bread
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Gardners Candies
Sweets
McDonald's
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Popeyes
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Fitness (2) F
Sheetz Athletic Training Center
Gym
Planet Fitness
Gym
The Grove Fitness Studio
Gym
Groceries (2) F
Aldi Food Store
Grocery Store
Weis
Grocery Store
MARTIN'S
Grocery Store
Giant Eagle
Grocery Store
Lisa Becker Bakery
Bakery
Weis
Grocery Store
Field & Stream
Seafood
Walmart Supercenter
Grocery Store
Parks (16) B
Prospect Park
Park
Broadave PARKing Lot
Park
Field
Park
Tuckahoe Park
Park
Tuckahoe park
Park
Tuckahoe Park
Park
Tuckahoe Park
Park
Westfall Park
Park
Geesey Park
Park
Fairview Park
Park
Fairview Park
Park
Valley View County Park
Park
Highland Park
Park
Lakemont Park
Park
Greenwood Park
Park
Baseball Field
Park
Alto Rest Park
Park
Shops (21) D-
Sheetz
Convenience Store
Triangle Barber Shop
Hairdresser
Dollar General
Discount Store
Sheetz
Convenience Store
Sheetz
Convenience Store
Rutter's
Convenience Store
Lowe's
Home Improvement
Sunrise Floral & Gifts
Florist
Sheetz
Convenience Store
Cricket Wireless
Electronics
Top Nails
Beauty
Best Buy
Electronics
FeFi's Grocery
Convenience Store
Men's Wearhouse
Clothing
'R' Style
Clothing
Family Dollar
Discount Store
The Home Depot
Home Improvement
Boscov's
Department Store
Ge
Convenience Store
Five Below
Discount Store
David's Bridal
Clothing
Ross
Department Store
Barnes & Noble
Books
Bed Bath & Beyond
Houseware
Ulta Beauty
Beauty
See more Altoona amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 2.8% take public transportation in Altoona.
Public Transit Stops (3)
Stops & Stations
B+
Altoona Transportation Center
Bus Stop
Altoona
Transit Station
Workers Taking Public Transit
2.8%
F
See more Altoona commute data

cost of living A+

The cost of living in Altoona is 88/100 - which is 10% lower than Pennsylvania.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
A-
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
A+
See more Altoona cost of living data

crime D

Altoona crime rates are 2,659 per 100k, which is 51% higher than Pennsylvania
Property Crime
2,237 crimes per 100k
D
Violent Crime
423 crimes per 100k
D
See more Altoona crime data

employment D

The median income in Altoona is $42,244 - which is 23% lower than Pennsylvania.
Med. Household Income
$42,244
F
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
C+
See more Altoona employment data

health B+

There are not many hospitals, police and fire stations,
Health & Safety (9)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
D-
Pennsylvania State Parole
Police
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
UPMC Altoona
Hospital
Altoona Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Doctor
U.S. Renal Care
Clinic
Thompson's Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Thompson's Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Penn State Altoona Police Services
Police
Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Station
Greenwood Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Sinking Valley Volunteer Fire Company
Fire Station
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
B+
See more Altoona health & safety data

housing A+

Altoona home prices are $92,900 - which is 45% lower than Pennsylvania
Home Price
$92,900
F
Home Appreciation Rate
8%
B+
Home Affordability
2.2x (home price to income ratio)
A+
See more Altoona housing data

schools B-

The Altoona graduation rate is 84% - which is 2% lower than Pennsylvania
School Test Scores
53%
D
High School Grad. Rates
84%
C-
Elementary Schools (14) F
Penn-Lincoln El Sch
Great Commission Schools
Adelphoi Education At Altoona
Irving El Sch
Pleasant Valley El Sch
Baker El Sch
Harbor House Center Early Academics
Lighthouse Christian Academy
Juniata El Sch
Logan El Sch
Shady Pond School
Mowrie A Ebner El Sch
Holy Trinity Middle School Campus
Juniata Gap El Sch
Northwestern Human Svcs Autism School
High Schools (8) A+
Greater Altoona Ctc
Altoona Area Hs
Altoona Area Jr Hs
Great Commission Schools
Adelphoi Education At Altoona
Kimmel Alternative School
Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School
Lighthouse Christian Academy
Northwestern Human Svcs Autism School
See more Altoona education data

ratings A+

Altoona has an overall rating of 83% from 11 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes
A+
User Surveys (9)
From AreaVibes
B-
See more Altoona user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
Photo of Altoona, PA
( 11 Ratings )

Living in Altoona, PA

Altoona Area Facts

  • Altoona has a Livability Score of 78/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Altoona crime rates are 51% higher than the Pennsylvania average
  • Cost of living in Altoona is 10% lower than the Pennsylvania average
New Real Estate Listings in Altoona Area
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Altoona Reviews

Write a review about Altoona Tell people what you like or don't like about Altoona…
Cheap place to live with much to do! 5 rating By lbx ( Oct 31, 2013) Altoona is truly a hidden treasure within Central PA. The city is surrounded by the gorgeous Appellation Mountains giving the city a beautiful backdrop. If your a fan of shopping Altoona is the perfect place for you. There are many big retail centers, plaza's, etc. in Altoona ...Read More that will cover your biggest shopping needs. The Altoona Area School system is truly magnificent (excelling in both academics and sports), in fact the Altoona Area High School just recieved a bronze award from the US News and World Report high school rankings. There is much to do in Altoona such as: watch Altoona's minor league baseball team play at PNG Field. Or you could visit Lakemont Amusement Park and ride the world oldest rollar coaster Leap the Dips, see a play at the historic Mishler Theater, Visit historic Baker Mansion, and so much more! UPMC (one of the nations best hospitals) just recently bought out Altoona's current hospital meaning that Altoona will now be home to exceptional healthcare. Penn State Altoona is also located in Altoona and is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen! Being a city of strong railroad heritage, Altoona is home of the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, and the world famous Horseshoe Curve. Altoona is a very inexpensive place to live. The average house hold price is around $70,000, and there are so many beautiful neighborhoods. My only complaint would be that since Altoona is the 10th biggest city in PA, it does have a crime rate that is a little (seriously just a little) over the state average, but I have been living here for 15 years and I have yet to experience any crime. Altoona is a very nice place to live. Read Less
Altoona, PA - Truly A Great Place To Live! 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 24, 2012) I have lived most of my life in the community of Altoona, Pennsylvania, nestled into the Allegheny Mountains. Altoona is a great community, the 11th largest in Pennsylvania. Most of the residents here enjoy a very short commute to work with an average of just over 18 minutes. Man ...Read More y of my neighbors work at Sheetz, a major convenience store chain with locations in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Education is important to me and other residents of Altoona. Our oldest student is a senior at Altoona Public High School, where she has enjoyed playing in the band at Friday night football games. We have really enjoyed how the school district has encouraged her involvement in various extracurricular activities. In the fall, she plans to attend Penn State's Altoona campus. The college has four major areas of study which are arts and humanities, business and engineering, education and mathematics and natural sciences. Our daughter plans to become a teacher.

We enjoy the many cultural events that Altoona has to offer. Our favorite is the yearly Arts Festival on Penn State's campus. As we stroll each year around the lake, we feel so lucky that we live in Altoona with its many artists that gather for this event. When our child was younger she definitely enjoyed getting balloon animals from Hubie The Clown and shaking hands with the Cowgirl Lady. Now, we enjoy watching the canoe races and feeding the ducks as we take time to unwind from the pressures of everyday life.

We look forward to a time when we can take our grandchildren to Lakemont Park. We feel so lucky to have Lakemont as our neighbor as it is the eighth oldest amusement park in the United States. I smile at the thought of the first time I get to take my grandchild on the world's oldest roller coaster located there. Read Less
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Compare Altoona, PA Livability

      vs

      F Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Altoona? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Prospect Park
      Broadave PARKing Lot
      Field
      Tuckahoe Park
      Tuckahoe park
      Tuckahoe Park
      Tuckahoe Park
      Westfall Park

      Entertainment

      Railroaders Memorial Museum
      Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
      Mansion Park Stadium
      People's Natural Gas Field
      Kryptonite nightclub
      Leap-The-Dips
      Lakemont Park & The Island Water Park
      AMC Classic Logan Valley 8

      Food & Drink

      Boyer Candy Factory Outlet
      McDonald's
      Wendy's
      Black & Gold Tavern
      Best Way Pizza
      Wine & Spirits
      Dairy Queen
      Concession Stand

      C- Commute

      Is public transit available in Altoona? Of all people who commute, 2.8% take public transportation in Altoona.
      Drive to Work
      82%

      5% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      3%

      2% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      4%

      2% higher than the US average

      A Health & Safety

      Is Altoona a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      UPMC Altoona

      Pharmacies

      Rite Aid
      Thompson's Pharmacy
      Thompson's Pharmacy

      Doctors

      Altoona Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery