Once a bustling railroad city, now a small, multigenerational community
The small city of Altoona was established in the mid-1800s, when the Pennsylvania Railroad cemented the Blair County community as an important manufacturing hub. Through the early-to-mid 1900s, Altoona’s rail yard bustled, building and repairing steam locomotives and train cars. The economy took a downward turn with the invention of the diesel engine, and workers began moving out of Altoona; in 1930, the city had 82,000 people, but there’s been a consistent population decline. Now, the city has about 42,000 people. “The community is very multigenerational. You hear a lot of ‘my dad’s been here, my grandfather’s been here, his father’s been here,’” says Jon Mozes, Director of Communications and Broadcasting for the Altoona Curve Baseball team. This creates a well-connected, close community of people who are excited about the city's development. In the past decade, new businesses have moved into Altoona and more community events have popped up, hinting at growth and change to come.
Altoona is a good mix of well kept homes and busy streets.
Freight trains pass through the Altoona neighborhood often, with a deep, comforting rumble.
Altoona offers residents epic views of the surrounding mountains.
The railroad is part of Altoona great American story.
1/4
American Foursquares and ranch-style homes in Altoona
The median listing price in Altoona is about $134,000, which is lower than the state median of $285,000 and the national median of $430,000. Housing in Altoona varies: 20th-century American Foursquares line gridded streets in neighborhoods like Logantown and Center City, while ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals are common in areas like Highland Park, Juniata Gap and Mansion Park. Houses in need of major repairs may cost as little as $30,000. In neighborhoods with ranch-style houses and Colonial Revivals from the mid-1900s, prices fluctuate between $150,000 and $400,000.
American Foursquare homes in Altoona date back from the late 1900s through the 1940s.
Mansion Park is where you can find Foursquare homes that meet your needs in Altoona.
Altoona has mainly colonial revival homes with modest yards.
There are rows of ranch styles homes in Altoona.
1/4
Public green spaces and nearby state parks
Outdoor recreation is a focal point in Altoona, as the community is surrounded by state hunting lands, nature preserves and state parks. In the city, pocket parks bring greenery to more dense streets, and larger public parks have sports courts and walking trails. Valley View Country Park is a popular area with a playground, picnic tables, wooded nature trails and a disc golf course. Kids play baseball and basketball at Geesey Park and Juniata Memorial Park. In-season hunting and trapping is legal on the state game lands that surround Altoona, and there are a couple of state parks where hikers may explore forested nature trails. Canoe Creek State Park and Prince Gallitzin State Park are both under 20 miles away and offer freshwater lakes for fishing and boating. Altoona experiences all four seasons, including warm summers, when highs hit the mid-80s°F, and cold winters, when temperatures consistently dip below freezing.
Altoona folks relax at the waters of Canoe Creek State Park.
The baseball diamond at Geesey Park in Altoona is well furnished.
Valley View County Park challenges the Disk Golf players of Altoona.
Kayakers enjoy the calm waters of Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park near Altoona.
1/4
Minor league baseball and a local art scene in Altoona
One of the city’s major social hubs is the People’s Natural Gas Field, whose design replicates a railroad roundhouse and nods to Altoona’s history. The field is home to the Altoona Curve minor league baseball team. There’s something about Curve baseball that’s engrained for the people of Altoona,” Mozes says. “Especially on days like July 4th, there’s no place to be except the Curve Stadium.” Just past the outfield, fans can see a wooden roller coaster that’s part of Lakemont Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country. “The park has open grounds now where you just pay individually to go on rides, so it’s more of a fair vibe,” Mozes says. The park didn’t open its rides for the 2024 season, but the mini golf course, batting cages and athletic courts were available. Altoona also has a small but dedicated arts scene, with a community theatre that puts on musicals and plays and a local symphony orchestra that both perform at the historic Mishler Theatre.
Residents can catch an Altoona Curve Baseball game during the season.
Leap-the-Dips is the oldest operating roller coaster in the world opened in 1902 in Altoona.
Your purchase from the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art can be walked home to Altoona..
Enjoy a night out in Altoona and catch the Curve.
1/4
Altoona-style pizza, longtime favorite taverns and newer downtown businesses
One of Altoona’s claims to internet fame is Altoona-style pizza, a unique slice invented at the Altoona Hotel in the 1950s that features square slices topped with red sauce, green pepper, salami and American cheese. “The funny thing about Altoona pizza is it’s not actually a ‘thing.’ The people of Altoona don’t prefer it, but a couple of shops around town do serve it,” Mozes says. Local restaurants like 29th Street Pizza, Subs and More, which serves Altoona-style pizza, are found throughout the city. Knickerbocker’s Tavern is one of the most popular places to grab beer and wings. Downtown is seeing more businesses enter the historic brick buildings, including a coffee shop, a couple of breweries and pubs serving American fare. Southeastern Altoona has most of the city’s shopping. Department stores like Macy’s and JCPenney are in the Logan Valley Mall, and nearby, there are big box stores like Target and Walmart Supercenter. Grocery stores like Martin’s can be found throughout Altoona. The UPMC Altoona Hospital, which has a Level III trauma center, provides medical care to residents.
Michael's Pizzeria is home to Altoona style Pizza.
Knickerbocker Tavern in Altoona serves craft cocktails in its historic building.
Altoona folks head across the tracks to Levity Brewing Company Downtown.
Logan Valley Mall in Altoona has significant stores like Macy's and JCPenny.
1/4
Vocational courses at Altoona Area High School
The Altoona Area School District has 11 schools, which serve about 7,000 students across the city. Niche gives the school district an overall B-minus rating. The district’s only high school, Altoona Area High School, scores a B rating. “The high school did a whole bunch of renovations. They have a whole TV studio, and it’s connected to the technical education center,” Mozes says. At the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, 11th and 12th-grade students may enroll in vocational programs like carpentry, collision repair, welding and masonry. There are also adult education programs in practical nursing, electrical trades and more.
Penn State also has a satellite campus in Altoona, which serves about 2,600 full-time students with five associate and 21 bachelor’s degree programs. “The satellite school really drives a lot of students who don’t make it into the main campus at first,” Mozes says. With the school’s 2+2 program, they can begin their degree at Penn State Altoona and transfer to the main campus in State College for the latter half of their degree.
The railroad repair shops that once employed thousands of Altoona residents have decreased significantly in size, now employing 450 people. Instead, many residents now work at the UPMC Altoona hospital, the Penn State satellite campus and the Sheetz Headquarters.
Altoona Area High School serves the student population from all over Altoona.
Greater Altoona CTC is a great learning environment for every student.
Penn State University Altoona campus is a large part of the Altoona community.
From specialty and urgent care, UPMC provides friendly patient care to Altoona residents.
1/4
Public bus lines and major interstates nearby
True to its railroading past, freight trains still frequently head to the Norfolk Southern rail yard. Near downtown, there’s also an Amtrak station where passengers can board the Pennsylvanian line. The train travels between New York City and Pittsburgh daily, so most Altoona residents use the train for day trips, not commutes. Buses operated by Amtran, the city’s public transportation system, traverse the streets. State Routes 36 and 764 and U.S. Route 220 wind through Altoona, and Interstate 99 runs just outside the city. Drivers merge onto Interstate 99 to drive throughout central Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is a 240-mile drive northwest, while Pittsburgh is about 98 miles west. While there is a small county airport nearby, the Pittsburgh International Airport is the closest major airport.
Crime rates in Altoona
According to a 2023 report from the Altoona Police Department, the total crime rate decreased by 9.5% between 2022 and 2023. However, FBI statistics show that Altoona’s violent crime rates are significantly above the state and national averages, while property crime rates are slightly above state and national averages.
A recipient of the prestigious 2024 NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Platinum Award, Trish Gesswein brings 17 years of proven excellence to your real estate journey. As Houwzer's Broker of Record in New Jersey, she combines award-winning expertise with innovative pricing that saves sellers thousands through our 1% listing fee model.
Trish's commitment to excellence is reflected in her consistent recognition: Platinum Circle of Excellence (2018-2020, 2024), multiple Superstar Awards for highest listing revenue and sales, and a track record of hundreds of successful transactions. For sellers, this means working with a top-performing broker while keeping more equity in their pocket. For buyers, Trish offers unique commission-sharing opportunities that can be applied toward down payments or rate buydowns.
Beyond her accolades, Trish's extensive experience spans investment properties, Luxury properties, and vacation homes. As a bilingual professional (Spanish/English) with a business degree from the University of Maryland, she brings sophisticated market analysis and negotiation skills to every transaction.
Contact Trish today to learn how you can save thousands while working with one of New Jersey's most accomplished real estate professionals.
Service Areas: New Jersey, Southeast PA (Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester Counties) Specialties: Residential Sales, Investment Properties, Short Sales, REO Properties Education: BA in Spanish & Business, University of Maryland Professional Memberships: GPAR, NEXUS, CMCAR
NEXUS Awards: NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Platinum (2018-2020, 2024) Superstar Award - Highest Listing Sales Revenue (Q4 2017) Superstar Award - Highest Listing Units and Sales Revenue (Q3 2018)
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.
