$133,812Average Value$138Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Understated Altoona neighborhood built along the trolley line
First developed in the 1800s for railroad employees taking the trolley line to work, Altoona's Toy Town neighborhood has stayed true to its understated character over the centuries. "It's called Toy Town because the houses are all so small," says Sue Kuhn, Altoona resident since 1989. "But even though the houses are small, it's a nice, working class neighborhood. My husband grew up there." Homes adorned with American flags, potted plants and lawn decorations often have pickup trucks parked out front and porch furniture where neighbors can hang out and greet one another. Located on Altoona's southwestern edge and directly against the rolling, green Allegheny Mountains that surround the town, Toy Town's quiet residential streets are still within 3 or so miles of downtown Altoona, UPMC Altoona hospital, Peoples Natural Gas Field and more local attractions.
Rows of Toy Town homes vary in style but are close together.
Toy Town has mainly colonial style homes with modest yards.
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American Foursquares and Colonial Revivals on gridded streets
Homes in Toy Town largely consist of American Foursquares and Colonial Revival homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s with less than 1,300 square feet of living space. These houses generally cost between $100,000 and $200,000, though some in need of repair can start around $60,000. Most of the neighborhood has gridded streets. Properties sometimes have little or no front yards; many homes directly abut the sidewalk and street in front of them. Although lawns have simple landscaping like small shrubs, most homeowners in Toy Town maintain their property well, trimming the grass and bushes and upkeeping the sidewalks in front of the houses by pulling weeds and occasionally pouring new concrete. "Toy Town's sidewalks are nice," Kuhn says. Comparatively, "the condition of sidewalks in Altoona not along state routes are not in consistent repair, since the sidewalks and garbage removal are up to the individual owner."
Residents of the Toy Town neighborhood take good care of their property.
Smaller homes are a staple in Toy Town.
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Students attend Altoona Area School District
Students living in Toy Town often begin at Mowrie A. Ebner Elementary School, which earns a C grade from Niche. Older students continue to Altoona Area Junior High School and Altoona Area High School, which both earn C-pluses. Students at Altoona Area High School also have the opportunity for dual enrollment at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center. In addition to their standard core classes, students enrolled at the career and technology center can learn vocational skills and earn industry certifications in subjects such as welding, cosmetology, computer programming and automotive technology.
Altoona Area High School serves the student population from all over Altoona.
Students from the City of Altoona attend Altoona Area Junior High School.
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Dining at Al's Tavern and shopping at Logan Valley Mall
Al's Tavern is a popular, locally owned bar and grill on 8th Avenue. Sports memorabilia covers the wood-paneled walls, and visitors can slide into a booth to watch the game on TV and enjoy a burger and a beer. Families can pick up calzones, pans of lasagna and pastas at Original Italian Pizza off Broad Avenue. Locals pick up groceries about 3 miles southeast at Weis Markets and Martin's. Just across Plank Road from Weis, Logan Valley Mall has more shopping at stores like Macy's and Old Navy. For quick trips, Dollar General is inside the neighborhood and Sheetz is close by off Beale Avenue. Small churches like First Grace Brethren Church and Broad Avenue United Methodist also serve the area and sit next to houses on residential blocks.
Downtown Altoona is home to many local restaurants like Levity Brewing.
Best Way Pizza is a favorite spot for Toy Town locals.
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Horseshoe Curve and Altoona Curve baseball
Nearby downtown Altoona hosts events such as the Blair County African American Heritage Festival in July, where families gather to check out local vendors and musicians and learn about the area's African American history. The festival first started in the 1990s but faded away before it was revived in 2020 by Altoona resident Paige Lightner. For more entertainment, locals can kick back with a beer and a hot dog to watch the Altoona Curve minor league baseball team run the bases at the Peoples Natural Gas Field, about 3 miles southeast of Toy Town. Horseshoe Curve, a sharply turning railroad line completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, is also a popular tourist destination less than 5 miles west of Toy Town. This track was an engineering feat when it was completed, and visitors still enjoy watching freight trains take the turn. Railroad tracks bordering the neighborhood connect to Horseshoe Curve and across the United States.
The Altoona Curve Baseball Stadium is a local favorite of Toy Town residents.
Horseshoe Curve is a landmark just outside of the Toy Town neighborhood.
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Mansion Park Stadium, Westfall Park and the Lemon House
Mansion Park Stadium has athletic facilities, including tennis courts, two baseball fields and two football fields just southeast of Toy Town. The grounds serve as the high school's athletic facilities but are also open to the public for recreational use. Nearby Westfall Park also has a baseball field and playground. Locals can explore more recreation in the mountains immediately surrounding Altoona. One popular location is the Lemon House. Located in the mountains at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site 10 miles west, the Lemon House is a historic brick home where visitors can check out exhibits on the area's history as a major railroad hub. "The high school's astronomy club used to go camping out there to see dark skies," Kuhn says. Park visitors can also hike on trails surrounding the property, which also serve as cross-country skiing trails in the winter.
The Lemon House in the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is close to Toy Town.
Residents of Toy Town often visit Westfall park.
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Getting around Altoona from Toy Town
Broad Avenue and Beale Avenue have Amtran bus stops that take residents to destinations like Logan Valley Mall and downtown. The small downtown area, which has an Amtrak station, is less than 2 miles northeast of Toy Town. UMPC Altoona hospital is 2.5 miles northeast and the Altoona-Blair County Airport is about 20 miles southeast. The closest international airport is 115 miles west, in Pittsburgh.
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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Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Lorraine Spock,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Mansion Park
Westfall Park
Vet's Field Baseball Park
Toy Town Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Toy Town, Altoona sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Toy Town, Altoona over the last 12 months is $165,000.
Priceless Opportunity in Altoona for a restored historic home with panoramic views. This fully restored 1920s craftsman-style home offers views of the city and surrounding mountains as it's perched on a scenic hilltop in a large corner lot almost 1 acre of land. The charm of the home shines bright with the preservation of its original character while incorporating modern conveniences. 4 spacious
Take a look at this recently remodeled home in Altoona. The first floor offers a living room, dining room, beautifully remodeled kitchen with SS appliances, and bonus room perfect for office or additional entertaining space. The bonus room has a sliding door leading to the covered porch and back yard. The second floor offers three bedrooms and a fully remodeled bathroom with tile shower and
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Lorraine Spock,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
454
Median Age
44
Population under 18
20%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$56,351
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$76,032
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.3%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
24.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.2%
% Population in Labor Force
63.1%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
35/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
48/ 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.
