A "development friendly community" east of Des Moines
Altoona residents often share the road with seasonal visitors. This city, 13 miles east of Des Moines, maintains a suburban atmosphere and serves as an entertainment destination for the broader metro area. “There is a lot of both residential and commercial growth in Altoona,” says Ryan Rohlf, local Realtor and owner of dsmSOLD Team at Keller Williams Legacy Group. “The Adventureland Resort, Bass Pro Shops and the Outlets of Des Moines are key attractions.” With other hotspots ranging from Prairie Meadows’ horseracing and casino to tract homes on the outskirts, Altoona makes good on its mantra: “a development-friendly community.”
Altoona is a growing suburb on the east side of the Des Moines metro area.
Adventureland is Altoona premiere amusement park and a popular summer destination.
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New Craftsman constructions in Altoona
The median home price in Altoona is $327,000 – which is significantly higher than Des Moines, but about the same as nearby suburban communities like Ankeny and Pleasant Hill. Established ranch-style homes, split-levels and townhouses make up much of the offerings on the west side of town, though the community infills lots and spreads outward with new developments each year. “There are some areas in Altoona that still have a tax abatement on new homes, which homeowners like to take advantage of,” says April Breig, Vice President at New Home Site Realty, a real estate company that's sold properties in new Altoona developments. Most of these fresh developments contain Craftsman and Traditional-style homes with two-car garages. Assisted living neighborhoods like The Vintage Cooperative of Altoona or Tuscany charge additional fees.
Altoona features a variety of home choices, from older and Ranch style to Contemporary.
Modern Ranch and two story designs are common throughout Altoona.
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The Adventureland Resort and Prairie Meadows Casino
Adventureland Park’s drop tower and roller coasters come into view when driving on U.S. Route 65 through Altoona. “It’s the main amusement park not just for the Des Moines area, but for the state,” Breig says. “The only other small one is in Okoboji, which is 4 hours away.” The theme park is part of a wider resort development with a campground and hotel. Next door is Prairie Meadows, one of only two nonprofit casinos in the United States with horse racing, an indoor casino and a conference center from May to September. Though these attractions account for some tourist traffic and noise throughout the year, “most traffic is right off the interstate, and there's one exit for both,” Breig says. “When there is a lot of traffic, you can just go down to the next exit.”
Adventure Bay provides an alternative to Adventureland to cool off in the Altoona summer heat.
Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona features a full race track, a full service casino, and hotel.
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Altoona sports complexes and bike trails
Altoona pairs its regional attractions with expansive parks and indoor spaces, several of which are located off 8th Street. “Sports are very big in Altoona,” Breig says. “A lot of teams play at the Sam Wise Youth Complex – soccer, baseball, they have it all.” The Altoona Campus is a state-of-the-art physical fitness facility with Zumba, cycling, boxing and yoga classes. Bike trails thread through subdivisions and connect amenities like Altoona Aquatics Park and the Altoona Library, eventually linking to the wider Des Moines metro trail system. “And if one isn’t connected already, they are working on getting it all connected,” Breig says.
Haines Park has sculptures scattered about the area for Altoona locals to look at.
The Sam Wise Youth Complex has batting cages for Altoona residents working on their swing.
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Southeast Polk schools and the Iowa Industrial Technology Expo
Southeast Polk Community School District scores a B-plus from Niche and covers most of Altoona, while a small number of students on the north side attend schools in the rural Bondurant-Farrar Community School District. Niche gives it a B-minus. Southeast Polk High School scores a B and is the location of the annual Iowa Industrial Technology Expo. Students from all over the state compete in various STEM and trade-based categories, such as interactive plumbing, photography and high-mileage vehicle construction. Students who excel in the expo can walk away with awards and scholarships.
Centennial Elementary School's Altoona signage proudly shows their mascot: the ram.
Southeast Polk High School was built in 2010.
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From The Outlets of Des Moines to the local Hy-Vee
Eighth Street, which runs east to west through Altoona, is home to many of the city’s big box stores, supermarkets and chain restaurants. Walmart, Target, Hy-Vee and Fareway all have locations here. The city is also home to the Outlets of Des Moines, an open-air mall with over a dozen familiar retail brands. The Bass Pro Shops off Adventureland Drive include a unique underwater-themed bowling alley and an in-house bar.
Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl in Altoona features a full bar, restaurant, and themed bowling alley.
The HyVee Grocery in Altoona boasts fresh flowers and produce in addition to daily groceries.
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Commutes to downtown Des Moines
“The majority of commuters head downtown or to suburbs like Ankeny or West Des Moines,” Breig says. Altoona sits on the eastern side of the Des Moines metropolitan area and is within 13 miles of downtown. Residents can commute by getting onto U.S. Highway 65 to Interstate 235. Des Moines Area Transit System buses maintain routes traveling throughout the city as well.
Crime statistics in Altoona
According to FBI data, violent crime rates in Altoona are lower than state and national averages. Property crime rates are lower than the national rate but comparable to the state. The Altoona Police Department reports that crimes against persons rose by about 11% from 2022 to 2023, while crimes against property rose by about 26% in the same period. Altoona is included in the Des Moines metro area’s Interactive Law Enforcement Response Map, where residents can see the exact locations of reported incidents.
Written By
Emma Downes
Photography Contributed By
Dylan Stowell
Video By
Amon Parson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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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.
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On average, homes in Altoona, IA sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Altoona, IA over the last 12 months is $330,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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