Culvers, 2005
Altoona’s story
158 years in pictures
Census counts: 400 in 1880, 19,565 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1930 on.
- 1868Altoona is settled
Photo: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0
Population
22,796
2025 Census estimate · +15.9% since 2020
Typical home
$322K
−0.7% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
36.1
years
Jobs based here
9,441
Balanced
TownGrade
B−
#85 of 140 in IA
Is Altoona a good place to live?
Altoona is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades B− overall, 85th among Iowa's 140 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its schools outperform 73% of the state's. Expect to pay for it: the typical home is worth about $322K, 3.7 years of the Des Moines metro’s $86K median household income. On hazard risk, just 14 of Iowa’s 276 towns do better. 10% of working residents work locally in Altoona, against 31% in Iowa’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Only 13 of Iowa’s 276 towns score lower on history.
StrongestA−Hazard risk
What makes Altoona stand out
Where Altoona beats most towns.
A growing town
Altoona has grown 56% since 2010
14,541 counted in 2010 and 19,565 in 2020; an estimated 22,796 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 15.9% since 2020, after 34.6% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Altoona grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Altoona is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →HealthMercyone Des Moines Medical Center 8.4 miles awayBOpen →SafetyC+Open →Jobs & incomeBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.1 of 20; 3.7% of households have no car; 0.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 5% conserved landB+Open →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life3.1 library visits per resident; 3.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market62 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.1; 34% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 19 attractions →Adventureland and 16 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Altoona. Close and well known come first.
in town Theme parkAdventureland
8 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center
8 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol
11 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center
10 mi Stadium & arenaDrake Stadium
12 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park Zoo
8 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center8 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol11 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center10 mi Stadium & arenaDrake Stadium12 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park ZooSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Altoona: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Altoona, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDes Moines Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpEvery other weekCurbside recyclingTown site
SchoolsSoutheast Polk Community School DistrictBondurant-Farrar Community School District2 districts serve Altoona; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePolk County AuditorPolk County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code5000950009 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Altoona.
Altoona trades workers with Des Moines and other neighbors, has seen reported crime fall by a fifth or more and has colder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of Iowa.
HousingCost of living grade C
Altoona’s grade for cost of living is a C
The median property tax bill is $4,392, against $2,897 across Iowa, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Altoona home is worth about $322,000, down 0.7% in a year, 36% above the Iowa typical home. Altoona’s median rent is $1,235 a month.
$322KZillow home value
| Altoona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,235 a month | $909 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 69% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Altoona$322K
Iowa$237K
Market temperature
62
days on market
99.9%
sale-to-list price
−0.7%
value change, 1 year
43
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB+
Altoona’s grade for schools is a B+
Its public schools are run by the Southeast Polk Community School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
73%of IA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Polk Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–7 | Grades 6–7 | 1,112 | A− |
| Altoona ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 429 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Low risk in Altoona, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 80% of U.S. communities. Since 1998, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Altoona.
20risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
2
paid flood claims since 1998
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Altoona has four seasons and pleasant summers
January nights average 13.1°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 76% of Iowa places with climate records; July afternoons average 84.7°.
Altoona has cold winters and warm summers. The January low in Altoona is 13°F. About 25 inches of snow falls in a winter.
25″snow a winter
| Altoona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 13°F | 12°F | 22°F |
| July high | 85°F | 84°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–33°
Spring40–60°
Summer63–83°
Fall42–62°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
Residents of Altoona are healthier than 63% of U.S. towns
Altoona beats the Iowa average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 21% of adults binge drink in Altoona.
63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Altoona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.9% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
3 better29 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Altoona | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.3% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5.6% | 6.6% |
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
8.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
59th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in three of Altoona’s working residents commute to Des Moines
Altoona has about as many jobs (9,441) as working residents, but only 962 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 6,672 in 2013 to 9,441.
Since 2013, Altoona has added 2,769 jobs, to 9,441 in 2023. The top destinations are Des Moines (31%), West Des Moines (12%) and Ankeny (9%). Half commute less than 10 miles.
10%work in town
| Altoona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 13% | 8.5% | 11% |
| Median household income | $86,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Altoona10%
Des Moines31%
West Des Moines12%
Ankeny9%
Urbandale5%
10 mi
median commute distance
9,441
jobs based in Altoona
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 54% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyC+
Altoona reports more crime per resident than 62% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 465 to 369 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
38%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Altoona1.8
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Altoona13.9
Iowa12.1
U.S.15.5
38th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
37th
percentile among IA towns
43
violent crimes reported in 2025
326
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsB+
4.6% of Altoona is conserved land
3.3 miles of trail in 12 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Spring Creek Park, at 38 acres.
#76for trails in IA
| Altoona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.6% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
4.6%
conserved · 395 of 8,522 acres
3.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Haines Park | 0.4 mi | 9 |
| 2. Prairie Heritage Park | 0.3 mi | 21 |
| 3. Spring Creek Park | — | 38 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
An age mix much like Iowa’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Iowa average. Altoona has grown 16% since 2020, to 22,796 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 26% of Altoona residents are under 18.
36.1median age · IA 38.6
| Altoona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 26% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 36.1 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 25% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 19% | 18% |
AltoonaIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school32%
Some college20%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s23%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
About 87 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.2 points). Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Altoona | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.7% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.8% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.7% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.1% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.8% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.4% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.8% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.4% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.7% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.6% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.1% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.4% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Altoona
20pages on Altoona
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 73% of IA districts · 5 schoolsSafetyC+1.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than IA on 3 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$322K typical home · down 0.7% in a yearWork & commuteB$86K median household income · 9,441 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Altoona
Grand View UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines6.6 mi$34,762 tuitionDes Moines Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ankeny7.8 mi$5,790 in-state tuitionMercy College of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines8.5 mi$17,664 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Altoona residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Famous people from Altoona
4 notable people were born in Altoona.
About Altoona
City in Polk County, Iowa, United States
Altoona is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States, and part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. The population was 19,565 at the 2020 census. It is home to the Adventureland amusement park and Prairie Meadows horse racing track and casino.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1876
- Area
- 9.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 955 ft
- ZIP code
- 50009
- Area code
- 515
Altoona’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Altoona.
BondurantPleasant HillAltoona
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | #85 | B− | C | C+ | B+ | B |
| Bondurant | #45 | A− | C | — | A− | A |
| Pleasant Hill | #116 | C− | C | — | D− | B− |
Bondurant and Pleasant Hill report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Altoona with a neighbor →
Questions about Altoona
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Altoona, IA a good place to live?
Altoona grades B− overall, better than 52% of U.S. towns and #85 of 140 in Iowa. It grades B for health, C+ for safety and B+ for schools.
Is Altoona, IA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is Altoona, IA known for?
4 notable people were born here, including John Houbolt and Kyle Orton.