Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
10-19 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
17%
Altoona
Altoona, IA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,113
Population
20,883
Renter Mix
32% Rent
Where Iowa goes to play.
Commuter
•
Suburb
•
Tourism
•
Parks
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Altoona is where Iowa comes to have a good time, and it turns out it’s also a pretty great place to call home. Sitting just east of Des Moines off I-80, this Polk County city packs in more activity than you’d expect from a town of roughly 20,000 people. Adventureland amusement park anchors the northwest corner of the city, while Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino sits just steps away. When the excitement settles down, residents can spread out across the city’s well-kept public parks, which offer plenty of room to breathe and enjoy the outdoors. Downtown Des Moines is less than 20 minutes by car, giving easy access to the metro’s dining, arts, and employment hubs.
The rental market in Altoona offers solid variety, from garden-style apartment communities and townhomes to newer builds that reflect the city’s steady growth. The city takes its name from the Latin word for “high,” altus, a nod to the elevated terrain surveyor Julian B. Bausman noticed when he laid out the city in 1868. Whether you’re drawn here for the convenience of suburban living or the surprising amount of entertainment right outside your door, Altoona delivers without the big-city price tag.
Explore the City
Greenway Park has a long trail for residents to walk and enjoy no matter the season.
Haines Park has sculptures scattered about the area for locals to look at.
Haines Park puts a lot of effort in the beautification and maintenance of the area.
Prairie Heritage Park & Civic Plaza has a pond with benches for residents to unwind.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$83,018
Average: $97,882
Education
4,833
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
11,504
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Altoona has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
32%
Non-Renters
68%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
20%
Other Education
80%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Altoona, IA is $734 for a studio, $1,114 for one bedroom, $1,339 for two bedrooms, and $1,512 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Altoona has decreased by -1.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,114/month
692 Sq Ft
House
$1,855/month
1,091 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Altoona, IA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
419 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
420 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
533 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
657 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Prairie Heritage Trail & Park
- Greenway Park Shelter & Trail
- Four Mile Creek Greenbelt
- Copper Creek Lake Park
- Mally's Weh-Weh-Neh-Kee Park
Military Bases
Airports
- Des Moines International
Top Apartments in Altoona
Houses for Rent in Altoona
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.