Altoona, PA

Census Place

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2021 Population

44,114

1.02% 1-year growth

US Senator

Bob Casey Jr.

Democratic Party

US Senator

John Fetterman

Democratic Party

2021 Median Age

39.6

1.28% 1-year increase

2021 Poverty Rate

20.3%

4.93% 1-year decrease

2021 Median Household Income

$46,010

8.91% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$95,500

2.8% 1-year growth

About

In 2021, Altoona, PA had a population of 44.1k people with a median age of 39.6 and a median household income of $46,010. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Altoona, PA grew from 43,669 to 44,114, a 1.02% increase and its median household income grew from $42,244 to $46,010, a 8.91% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Altoona, PA are White (Non-Hispanic) (90.6%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.91%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (2.93%), White (Hispanic) (1.36%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.397%).

None of the households in Altoona, PA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.8% of the residents in Altoona, PA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Altoona, PA are Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (179 degrees awarded in 2021), Altoona Beauty School Inc (210748) (67 degrees), and YTI Career Institute-Altoona (375939) (1 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Altoona, PA was $95,500, and the homeownership rate was 64.1%.

Most people in Altoona, PA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 19 minutes. The average car ownership in Altoona, PA was 2 cars per household.

United States Pennsylvania Blair County, PA Altoona, PA Altoona City PUMA, PA

Population & Diversity

Altoona, PA is home to a population of 44.1k people, from which 99.8% are citizens. As of 2021, 0.814% of Altoona, PA residents were born outside of the country (359 people).

In 2021, there were 23.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (40k people) in Altoona, PA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.73k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 1.29k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Citizenship

99.8%

2021 Citizenship

99.7%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 99.8% of Altoona, PA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Altoona, PA was 99.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Altoona, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Altoona, PA

White (Non-Hispanic)
40k ± 665
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
1.73k ± 561
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
1.29k ± 341

1.92%

Hispanic Population

848 people

1.92% of the people in Altoona, PA are hispanic (848 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Altoona, PA as a share of the total population.

Foreign-Born Population

0.814%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

359 people

0.788%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

344 people

As of 2021, 0.814% of Altoona, PA residents (359 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Altoona, PA was 0.788%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Altoona, PA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,095 ± 193
Gulf War (2001-)
550 ± 176
Gulf War (1990s)
429 ± 126

Altoona, PA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.99 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Altoona, PA employs 18.8k people. The largest industries in Altoona, PA are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,097 people), Retail Trade (2,727 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (1,832 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($65,972), Public Administration ($56,288), and Wholesale Trade ($50,052).

Employment

Occupations

18.8k

2021 Value

± 933

0.245%

1 Year growth

± 6.9%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Altoona, PA grew at a rate of 0.245%, from 18.8k employees to 18.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Altoona, PA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,946 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,615 people), and Management Occupations (1,596 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Altoona, PA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Pennsylvania (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

18.8k

2021 Value

± 933

0.245%

1 Year growth

± 6.9%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Altoona, PA grew at a rate of 0.245%, from 18.8k employees to 18.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Altoona, PA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,097 people), Retail Trade (2,727 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (1,832 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Altoona, PA, though some of these residents may live in Altoona, PA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$37,120

Median earning men ± $1,608

$28,805

Median earning women ± $1,663

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Public Administration ($61,976), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($60,191), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($50,156).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Construction ($70,625), Wholesale Trade ($50,833), and Public Administration ($41,875).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in Pennsylvania. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Pennsylvania.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Pennsylvania to other states, or from other states to Pennsylvania.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Pennsylvania product (by dollars) was Pharmaceuticals with $110B, followed by Mixed freight ($76.1B) and Electronics ($43.9B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Pennsylvania products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Pennsylvania.

$722B

2020 Value in Pennsylvania

$1.46T

Projected 2050 Value in Pennsylvania

103% growth

In 2020, total outbound Pennsylvania trade was $722B. This is expected to increase 103% to $1.46T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Pennsylvania trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Pennsylvania to other states, or from other states to Pennsylvania.

Most Common Trade Partners

New Jersey
$73.7B
New York
$72.6B
Ohio
$36B

In 2020, the top outbound Pennsylvania domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New Jersey with $73.7B, followed by New York with $72.6B and Ohio and $36B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Pennsylvania shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 50% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (48.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.15%).

Bob Casey Jr. and John Fetterman are the senators currently representing the state of Pennsylvania. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Altoona, PA. Showing the available data for Pennsylvania.

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (50%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (48.8%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.15%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Pennsylvania went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 50% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (48.8%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.15%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Pennsylvania for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Pennsylvania

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Bob Casey Jr.

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2007

John Fetterman

Senator from Pennsylvania

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Bob Casey Jr. and John Fetterman are the senators currently representing Pennsylvania.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Pennsylvania over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is currently represented by 17 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Pennsylvania have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Altoona, PA awarded 247 degrees. The student population of Altoona, PA in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 84 male students and 351 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Altoona, PA are White (227 and 91.9%), followed by Black or African American (9 and 3.64%), Two or More Races (5 and 2.02%), and Hispanic or Latino (3 and 1.21%).

The largest universities in Altoona, PA by number of degrees awarded are Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (179 and 72.5%), Altoona Beauty School Inc (210748) (67 and 27.1%), and YTI Career Institute-Altoona (375939) (1 and 0.405%).

The most popular majors in Altoona, PA are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (75 and 30.4%), HVAC Maintenance (41 and 16.6%), and Aesthetician & Skin Care Specialist (28 and 11.3%).

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Measure

In 2021, 0.711% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.725% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Pennsylvania.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (3.52M), Bachelors Degree (1.95M), and Some college (1.84M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Altoona, PA was $95,500 in 2021, which is 0.39 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $92,900 to $95,500, a 2.8% increase. The homeownership rate in Altoona, PA is 64.1%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Altoona, PA have an average commute time of 19 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Altoona, PA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Altoona, PA is $46,010. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in Altoona, PA was Census Tract 1002 with a value of $67,112, followed by Census Tract 1009 and Census Tract 1012, with respective values of $62,652 and $61,929.

Property

$95,500

Median Property Value 2021

±$2,768

$11,632

Median Property Taxes

±$654

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Altoona, PA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Altoona, PA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

64.1%

Homeownership

2021

60%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 64.1% of the housing units in Altoona, PA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 63.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Altoona, PA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 1002
Census Tract 1009
Census Tract 1012

In 2021, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Altoona, PA was Census Tract 1002 with a value of $67,112, followed by Census Tract 1009 and Census Tract 1012, with respective values of $62,652 and $61,929.

The following map shows all of the places in Altoona, PA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$46,010

Median Household Income

± $1,995

18.2k

Number of Households

± 912

In 2021, the median household income of the 18.2k households in Altoona, PA grew to $46,010 from the previous year's value of $42,244.

The following chart displays the households in Altoona, PA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Altoona, PA is from Pennsylvania.

0.467

2021 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

0.466

2020 Wage GINI in Pennsylvania

In 2021, the income inequality in Pennsylvania was 0.467 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.147% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Pennsylvania was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Pennsylvania in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Pennsylvania across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (80.8%)
Carpooled (7.52%)
Walked (4.12%)

In 2021, 80.8% of workers in Altoona, PA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (7.52%) and those who walked to work (4.12%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

19 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Altoona, PA have a shorter commute time (19 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 1.61% of the workforce in Altoona, PA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Altoona, PA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Altoona, PA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Altoona, PA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

20.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Altoona, PA (8.75k out of 43.2k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Altoona, PA is White, followed by Two Or More and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

95.7% of the population of Altoona, PA has health coverage, with 39.9% on employee plans, 27.9% on Medicaid, 10.9% on Medicare, 14.5% on non-group plans, and 2.52% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Blair County, PA see 1243 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.47% increase from the previous year (1225 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1551 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 388 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Blair County, PA.

1,243 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Blair County, PA

Primary care physicians in Blair County, PA see an average of 1,243 patients per year. This represents a 1.47% increase from the previous year (1,225 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Blair County, PA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.7% under 18 years, 21.6% between 18 and 34 years, 38.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 16% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.7% were men and 52.3% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.27%

Uninsured

39.9%

Employer Coverage

27.9%

Medicaid

10.9%

Medicare

14.5%

Non-Group

2.52%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Altoona, PA declined by 2.74% from 4.39% to 4.27%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Altoona, PA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.