Slightly south of the once-bustling railroad city of Altoona, Foot of Ten receives its name from the Pennsylvania railroad system. When the state of Pennsylvania set out to create a canal system like New York’s Erie Canal to efficiently move goods from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in the 1820s, the Allegheny Mountains presented a challenge. A railroad system consisting of 10 planes, five ascending and five descending, solved the problem, with stationary engines at each inclined plane moving rail cars to the next plane. The small community at the foot of the 10th incline aptly became Foot of Ten. Back then, the village was inhabited by railroad workers and their families. Now, it's a peaceful neighborhood in the borough of Duncansville where homes sit on spacious lots, fields of farmland are close by, and residents can spend time hiking and exploring the Alleghenies.
Foot of Ten is a rural area on the southern end of Altoona.
Rows of various styles of homes are common in Foot of Ten.
1/2
Ranches and Colonial Revivals with views of the Alleghenies
Quiet, residential streets meander off the Foot of Ten corridor and are peppered with single-family homes on spacious grass lots. “It’s a stable, established community. They haven’t experienced some of the flight that Altoona has, so the homes are well-maintained,” says Scott Reilly, an Altoona native who operates the High Guys Video YouTube channel and production company. The neighborhood's more rural setting and proximity to farmland contributed to the stability. Ranches, bungalows and Colonial Revivals were all built in the 1950s and ‘60s and are usually priced between $115,000 and $320,000. The rural atmosphere means that there are still open lots to develop, so buyers can buy three-quarters of an acre for around $50,000. The neighborhood also has a community of mobile homes, which cost anywhere between $20,000 and $50,000.
Ranch homes can be found on many streets in Foot of Ten.
Older colonial revival homes are located on Foot of Ten rd.
1/2
Trailheads, hunting land and sports fields nearby
As the neighborhood is situated near the central Pennsylvania countryside, there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. “We’re within the heart of the national 9/11 Memorial Trail, which has off-road trails and greenways connecting the three 9/11 sites in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania,” says Mark Ickes, the Executive Director of Explore Altoona. The 6 to 10 Trailhead, which is part of the 9/11 Memorial Trail, has nature trails that wind through the woods and offer views of the remnants of the railroad incline planes. Parts of the trail are bikeable, but many spots are only conducive to hiking. Hunters only have to drive a few miles to reach vast expanses of land owned by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, where trapping and hunting are legal during the on-seasons. Duncansville Memorial Park, which is about 2 miles from the neighborhood, has a baseball field, basketball court and playground.
6 To 10 Trail
Memorial Park has many attractions including a memorial to our fallen service men and women.
1/2
Career education with the Greater Altoona Career and Technical Center
Kids can start at Foot of Ten Elementary School, which has a B rating from Niche, and progress to Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School, which earns a B-plus rating. Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School has a B rating and offers students the chance to enroll in career education classes through the Greater Altoona Career and Technical Center. The center has programs in fields like construction, advanced manufacturing, businesses and arts and communication.
Foot of Ten Elementary School is located on a quiet rural road in Foot of Ten.
Students in the area attend Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School.
1/2
Community events in Duncansville
Foot of Ten residents join the larger Duncansville community for seasonal events. Spring begins with an Easter egg hunt at Duncansville Memorial Park, complete with face painting and free hot chocolate for children. In the summer, there’s an annual weekend event called Duncansville Community Days. Residents gather for a yard sale, corn hole tournament and live music performances, while kids enjoy a petting zoo, face painting and bounce houses. In early December, there’s a tree lighting at the Hicks United Methodist Church. Kids pose for pictures with Santa and sip hot chocolate as they wait for the tree-lighting ceremony.
Route 22 goes to Altoona and Pittsburgh
The area is car-dependent, so residents rely on personal vehicles to get around. Foot of Ten Road is the main thoroughfare that connects the community to roadways like U.S. Route 22, which takes residents 4 miles east to Hollidaysburg. The route also takes drivers 9 miles north to Altoona, where they can find resources like the UPMC Altoona hospital. Route 22 also runs 88 miles west to Pittsburgh. There aren’t train tracks in Foot of Ten anymore, but downtown Altoona does have an Amtrak station with a train that goes west to Pittsburgh or east to Philadelphia.
Local eateries and elevated restaurants in Hollidaysburg
Foot of Ten has a couple of casual eateries, and Duncansville and Hollidaysburg are both under 3 miles east for more elevated options. Steve-O’s Pizza is a small laidback spot serving pizza, subs and salads; residents may eat in a tiny dining area or swing through the drive-thru. Aviation Inn in Duncansville is a popular diner serving American fare like wings, wraps and fries. Sugar Run Brewing opened in Duncanville in 2023; the modern, industrial taproom offers craft beer and pub fare like hot dogs and sandwiches. Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg is a walkable collection of small businesses and elevated restaurants. Allegheny Creamery and Crepes offers a creative selection of sweet and savory crepes, which residents can enjoy on the outdoor patio. “Mayfield at the Capitol Hotel opened a few years back. The Capitol Hotel has an over-100-year history, and they kept a lot of the original flooring in the remodel and hired a Johnson and Wales-trained chef,” Reilly says. The restaurant has a comfortable vintage atmosphere and serves elevated American fare, like sandwiches, burgers and rice bowls. A few local shops, like a home goods store called Connie’s Collectibles and Quilts, serve the community. Residents drive 2 miles east to Duncansville to go grocery shopping at Martin’s or travel 4 miles northeast to Altoona to go retail shopping at T.J. Maxx or Target.
Steve-O's Pizza in Foot of Ten features a drive thru lane.
Allegheny Creamery & Crepes is located in the heart of downtown Hollidaysburg.
GreatSchools:
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lori Whetstone,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
6 To 10 Trail
Memorial Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Foot of Ten
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Foot of Ten Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Foot of Ten, Allegheny sell after 3 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Foot of Ten, Allegheny over the last 12 months is $268,000, up 16% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$255,000
Median Sale Price
$268,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$300,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
-5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
2
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
16%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$104
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
62
Median Year Built
1964
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,623
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,136
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
20,037
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lori Whetstone,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
602
Median Age
50
Population under 18
20.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
29.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$55,666
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$80,915
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.4%
College Graduates
15.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.2%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
40/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
11/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
