Living in Altoona means easy access to Des Moines and fun
Altoona maintains a suburban atmosphere and serves as an entertainment destination for the broader metro area. The growing area is home to an amusement park, a horse racing track and casino and an outlet shopping center. In addition to commercial developments, new homes and residential areas are popping up in Altoona. Residents often share the road with seasonal visitors as the city is only around 13 miles east of Des Moines.
Altoona is a growing suburb on the east side of the Des Moines metro area.
Residents love the Bass Pro Shop's beautiful aquarium.
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Tax abatements and pricing trends shaping Altoona housing
Established ranch-style homes, split-levels and townhouses make up much of the west side of town, while new developments and lots spread outward. Most of these recent developments feature Craftsman and Traditional-style homes with two-car garages. “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.
The median home price in Altoona is in the mid $300,000s, which is significantly higher than Des Moines’ median in the low $200,000s, but on par with nearby suburban communities like Ankeny and Pleasant Hill. Homes tend to stay on the market for an average of 85 days, longer than the national average of 53 days.
The city features a variety of home choices, from older and Ranch style to Contemporary.
Modern Ranch and two story designs are common.
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School choice gives families flexibility across districts
Most of Altoona is zoned for Southeast Polk Community School District, which has highly rated schools. A small number of students on the north side attend schools in the rural Bondurant-Farrar Community School District. Iowa law allows families to enroll their children in other districts within the state if space is available. Southeast Polk High School students can take classes at Des Moines Area Community College and earn college credit. Through DMACC, juniors and seniors can enroll in the Career Academy and complete courses in concentrations such as auto mechanics, computer programming and culinary arts.
Centennial Elementary School's signage proudly shows their mascot, the ram.
Southeast Polk High School was built in 2010.
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Most residents rely on cars for work and errands
Altoona is mostly car-dependent, but some homes are within walking distance of stores and restaurants. Downtown Altoona and many residential areas have sidewalks. The city sits on the eastern side of the Des Moines metropolitan area and is within 13 miles, which is about 15 minutes, of Downtown Des Moines. “The majority of commuters head downtown or to suburbs like Ankeny or West Des Moines,” Breig says. Residents can commute by getting onto U.S. Highway 65 to Interstate 235. Des Moines Area Transit System buses operate routes throughout the city.
Things to do in Altoona include theme parks and casinos
Altoona calls itself “A Development Friendly Community.” Its hotspots range from Prairie Meadows’ horse racing and casino to tract homes on the outskirts of the city. “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.”
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.
Adventure Bay provides an alternative to Adventureland to cool off in the summer heat.
Prairie Meadows Casino features a full race track, a full service casino and hotel.
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How Altoona connects parks, trails and community amenities
Altoona has many expansive parks and indoor recreation 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 offering Zumba, cycling, boxing and yoga classes. Bike trails run through subdivisions and connect to 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 locals to look at.
The Sam Wise Youth Complex has batting cages for residents working on their swing.
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What to know before moving to Altoona
“They are growing because they have businesses,” says Shonna Murrey, a broker associate who is the area leader for Epique Realty and the team leader for The Murrey Group. “They’ve got Amazon there, and it also has a lot of server hubs.” Murrey also says that Altoona’s plentiful shopping and entertainment options make it feel more like a big city when compared to some of Des Moines’ smaller suburbs, like Polk City.
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Photography Contributed By
Dylan Stowell
Video By
Amon Parson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Altoona, IA sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Altoona, IA over the last 12 months is $328,995, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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