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Altoona

Iowacity

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Total population

21,495

Median home value

$274,600

33.5%

Bachelor's+

Median income

$86,114

Altoona$86k
National$74k
Elevation286 m
Weather86°F · Sunny
Coordinates41.65°, -93.48°

Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.

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City facts

Overview

Altoona is a city that lies in Iowa, United States. Coordinates of 41.646°, -93.479° situate Altoona in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. It is home to roughly 21,495 residents. At 700 people per km², the city shows an average residential density. Open solar datasets indicate about 1,492 kWh/m² of solar irradiance per year, combined with sunshine for roughly 58% of daylight hours. Its latitude implies a climate characterised by four distinct seasons with warm summers and cold winters. The administrative footprint covers about 30.7 km². Open-data panels below dive into population trends, climate normals, environmental indicators and nearby places.

Summary composed automatically from structured open data on this page. See our Terms for details.

History & geography

Demographics & economy

Median age
36.1
Median home value
$274,600
Housing units
8,773
Poverty rate
8.3%
Unemployment
7.5%

Race & ethnicity

White
85.1%
Black
5.2%
Asian
2.1%
Hispanic
6.5%

Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

Geography

Latitude
41.6464
Longitude
-93.4786
Water area
0.01 mi²
View on OpenStreetMap

Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.

Climate

Current forecast

Columbus Day
86°F
Sunny
Tonight
63°F
Mostly Clear
Tuesday
79°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Tuesday Night
59°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wednesday
69°F
Chance Rain Showers
Wednesday Night
56°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Forecast for Altoona, IA from NOAA NWS API.

Air quality

Industrial & pollution facilities

Natural hazard risk

Health (adults)

High blood pressure
29.6%
Diabetes
9.1%
Adult obesity
37%
Binge drinking
22.3%
Adult smoking
14.1%
No leisure activity
22.9%

Age-adjusted prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES (latest release).

Walkability

Amenities nearby

Wildlife & biodiversity

Observations (last 5 yrs, 10 mi)
255,015
Distinct species (top 10)
10

Most-observed species

  • American Robin
    Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
    7,879
  • Northern Cardinal
    Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
    7,760
  • Blue Jay
    Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
    6,578
  • Black-capped Chickadee
    Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
    6,300
  • Downy Woodpecker
    Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
    6,097
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
    Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
    6,059
  • Canada Goose (canadensis Group)
    Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
    5,994
  • American Goldfinch
    Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
    5,664

Citizen-science & research observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Schools

Total
68
Elementary
42
Middle
11
High
8
Other
7

Largest nearby schools

  • Lincoln High School
    High · Des Moines · 2,403 students · 26.7:1 ratio
  • Southeast Polk High School
    High · Pleasant Hill · 2,353 students · 19:1 ratio
  • East High School
    High · Des Moines · 2,040 students · 21.7:1 ratio
  • North High School
    High · Des Moines · 1,458 students · 22.1:1 ratio
  • Ankeny High School
    High · Ankeny · 1,347 students · 17.1:1 ratio
  • Southeast Polk Junior High
    Middle · Pleasant Hill · 1,088 students · 16.5:1 ratio
  • Northview Middle School
    Other · Ankeny · 1,065 students · 17.5:1 ratio
  • Prairie Ridge Middle School
    Middle · Ankeny · 1,025 students · 16.3:1 ratio

Public K–12 schools within ~10 mi from Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES Common Core of Data, 2022).

Earthquake history

Quakes ≥ 2.5 (25 yrs, 62 mi)
3
Largest magnitude
3.3
Largest event
2025-06-25

Most recent

Events from the USGS Earthquake Catalog (global) (FDSN Event Web Service).

Photos

Sights & places nearby

Notable people from here

John Houbolt
John Houbolt
American aerospace engineer (1919–2014)
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
American football quarterback
E
Ernest Traxler
American film director
Lesley Woods
Lesley Woods
American actress (1910-2003)
Clyde Crabtree
Clyde Crabtree
American football player, teacher, coach (1905-1994)
Jamie Solinger
Jamie Solinger
American model
F
Fae McClung Shawhan
botanist
G
George Basalla
American historian of science (1928-2025)
Robert B. Armstrong
Robert B. Armstrong
American journalist (1873–1946)

People born within ~10 km, from Wikidata (CC0). Click any name for their Wikipedia article.

Nearby places in Iowa

Browse all places in Iowa →

Geography & sun

Elevation
938 ft (286 m)
Avg solar (kWh/m²/day)
4.09
Annual solar (kWh/m²)
1,492

Elevation, sunrise/sunset and daylight from Open-Meteo. Solar climatology from NASA POWER.

Nearby airports

Public attention

Wikipedia views (last 30 days)
781
Avg daily Wikipedia views
26
Attention level
Obscure

Pageview totals from the Wikimedia Pageviews API.

Books about Altoona

Head-on collision between Iowa Interstate Railroad Extra 470 West and Extra 406 East with release of hazardous materials near Altoona, Iowa, July 30, 1988
United States. National Transportation Safety Board. · 1989
Dispersion sale shorthorn cattle
Dispersion sale shorthorn cattle
Bonnewell & Sons · 1922
Catalogue, tenth public sale, shorthorn cattle
Catalogue, tenth public sale, shorthorn cattle
Bonnewell & Sons · 1920
Altoona
Alex Payne · 2014
Des Moines & Ames, Iowa, streetmap: Including Altoona, Ankeny, Carlisle, Clive ... Windsor Heights
Seeger Map Co · 2001
Cyrus Harvey
Cyrus Harvey
Cyrus Harvey (Firm) · 1929
1990 census of population and housing
United States. Bureau of the Census · 1992
Cyrus Harvey Nursery [price list]
Cyrus Harvey Nursery [price list]
Cyrus Harvey Nursery · 1931

Search results from Open Library.

Recent natural events nearby

Ground air-quality sensors

Recently spotted species

Eastern Black Swallowtail
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes asterius
Seen 2026-10-11
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis
Seen 2026-10-11
ivy-leaved morning-glory
ivy-leaved morning-glory
Ipomoea hederacea
Seen 2026-10-11
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma
Seen 2026-10-10
Western Honey Bee
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Seen 2026-10-10
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
Seen 2026-10-10
Monarch
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
Seen 2026-10-08
Cedar Beetle
Cedar Beetle
Sandalus niger
Seen 2026-10-07
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
Seen 2026-10-07

Research-grade observations from iNaturalist (within ~15 mi).

Nearest stream gauge

Site
Fourmile Creek at Des Moines, IA
Distance
4.1 mi
Streamflow
209 cfs
Gage height
4.44 ft

Live readings from USGS NWIS · measured 2026-10-12 10:30 UTC.

Events

Gallery

Sources

  • • US Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates)
  • • NOAA National Weather Service
  • • Wikidata
  • • USGS Earthquake Catalog (global feed)
  • • USGS NWIS (water data)
  • • NCES via Urban Institute Education Data Portal
  • • GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
  • • iNaturalist
  • • CDC PLACES
  • • Open-Elevation
  • • Open-Meteo / sunrise-sunset.org
  • • Wikipedia Pageviews API
  • • Open Library