Altoona city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Altoona city is a small city located in Iowa. The total population is 20,592. It ranks as the 27th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Altoona city is 35.5 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Altoona city is $87,123. This is 19% higher than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.2%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 83% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $257,300. Housing costs are 31% higher than the state median of $195,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 68.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Altoona city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.9%.

Education

32.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Altoona city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.