Altoona, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Altoona, Kansas had a total population of 467, the 314th largest city in Kansas, with a median household income of $48,875, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 5.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x.
Altoona Quick Facts
How Altoona Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 409 | 467 | +14.2% |
| Median household income | $44,107 | $48,875 | +10.8% |
| Median home value | $50,200 | $48,000 | -4.4% |
How Altoona Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Altoona Rankings in Kansas
Explore Kansas Rankings
Other Cities in Wilson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neodesha | 2,503 | $50,792 | 16.5% | $91,400 |
| Fredonia | 1,945 | $59,125 | 19.3% | $76,000 |
| Buffalo | 282 | $68,750 | 8.2% | $36,000 |
| New Albany | 88 | $82,813 | 51.9% | $46,400 |
| Lafontaine | 78 | $52,692 | 12.8% | $45,500 |
| Coyville | 62 | N/A | 41.9% | $49,100 |
| Benedict | 61 | $46,250 | 13.1% | $24,300 |
Cities Similar to Altoona
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White City | 458 | $48,750 | $58,600 | 16.0% | 24.4% |
| Jewell | 469 | $45,000 | $59,600 | 16.6% | 16.2% |
| Miltonvale | 474 | $52,026 | $50,000 | 14.8% | 20.3% |
| Uniontown | 467 | $53,750 | $48,200 | 24.6% | 7.5% |
| Hope | 485 | $51,500 | $100,000 | 15.0% | 38.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 467, Altoona's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Altoona is a small community located in Kansas, within Wilson County. The total population is 467. It ranks as the 314th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Altoona is 41.4 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Altoona is $48,875. This is 34% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.8%. This is 49% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 63% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $48,000. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Altoona is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Altoona has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 13.6%.
Education
10.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Altoona, Kansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 721 Census-designated places in Kansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Altoona, Kansas?
Altoona, Kansas has a population of 467 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Altoona, KS?
The median household income in Altoona is $48,875, which is 39% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Altoona, KS?
The poverty rate in Altoona is 5.8%. This means approximately 27 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Altoona, Kansas?
Altoona's population is 86.5% White, 0.0% Black, 2.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Altoona, KS?
The median home value in Altoona is $48,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.0x.
How educated is Altoona, Kansas?
10.5% of adults (25+) in Altoona hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.