Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Altoona, IA

    Is Altoona a good place to live?

    Watch Altoona

    Altoona ranks #13 of 20 Iowa cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (43/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 2.9% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $257,300
    +5.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,203
    per month
    Household income
    $87,123
    median
    Unemployment
    6.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Altoona

    The median home value in Altoona is $257,300 and median rent is $1,203 a month, against a median household income of $87,123. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Altoona crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Iowa the 2025 rate was 238 violent and 1,205 property crimes per 100,000 people — #40 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Altoona, IA

    Altoona has about 20,592 residents, 6.7% unemployment and 25% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Altoona with

    Altoona vs Des MoinesAltoona vs Cedar RapidsAltoona vs DavenportAltoona vs Sioux CityAltoona vs Iowa CityAltoona vs AnkenyAltoona vs West Des MoinesAltoona vs Waterloo

    More: Where to move in Iowa · Best counties in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report