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Altoona, IA
Full City Profile · Iowa · Polk County County
3.5
/5.0
B+
Good
20,592
Population
1,547/sq mi density
$87,123
Median Income
$41,907 per capita
$257,300
Home Value
$317,292 Zillow
$1,203
Median Rent
25.1% income on rent
50°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
119
Violent Crime/100K
2,989 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$87,123 median income, 4.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$257,300 home value, $1,203/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
119 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.6 / 5.0
32.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Altoona experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Temperature
21°F Jan (-6°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 49.5°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 21°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 936 ft (285 m) |
| Area | 9.4 sq mi (24.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,547/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.6464°N, 93.4786°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Polk County County |
| Nearest Airport | Des Moines International (DSM) 15 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0449 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 10.2 ppb |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 9.4 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 92.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 17.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 91.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | Very High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°F (-6°C) | 1.2 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.3 in | |
| March | 38°F (3°C) | 2.4 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 62°F (16°C) | 4.3 in | |
| June | 71°F (22°C) | 4.6 in | Wettest |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 4.0 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 3.5 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 2.7 in | |
| November | 37°F (3°C) | 2.2 in | |
| December | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.5 in |
Altoona has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 21°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 35.4 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.6") and January the driest (1.2").