Alright, Poverty rate is 13.9%, which is around average. With a population of 43,508, Altoona is a smaller city. The city has invested a lot in new development. Thanks! Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The suburbs are where most families end up.
19 upvotes
6 Replies
Cameron Ramos
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value cost of living, you'll love it. The community vibe is genuinely tough and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Highland) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Property taxes are high.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
19 upvotes
Kinsley Campbell
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Atlanta and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in North. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in legal. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
13 upvotes
sunny_james91
The food scene here is hit or miss. Tons of great Asian places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
12 upvotes
Austin Wood
Came here for my partner's job and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The safety is honestly improving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
8 upvotes
Hannah J.
Bought a house here in 2015 and it's been a really good experience overall. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
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