Altoona vs Harrisburg
Altoona, Pennsylvania versus Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Altoona edges out Harrisburg on overall objective livability (56 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Altoona | Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $50k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $40k | $47k |
| Home Value | $111k | $112k |
| Monthly Rent | $795 | $944 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.23% | 2.07% |
| Income Tax | 4.70% | 5.10% |
| Sales Tax | 6.34% | 6.34% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.49% | 12.17% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 27°F | 32°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 77°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7 in | 45.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1 in | 23.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 254 days | 200 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 88 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 15.0 | 48.9 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 57 AQI |
| School Quality | 60.1 | 97.1 |
| Violent Crime | 1125/100k | 1110/100k |
| Property Crime | 778/100k | 1068/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 43,821 | 50,055 |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 31.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.17 | 0.65 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | R+44 | Even |
| White (%) | 89.9% | 25.3% |
| Black (%) | 3.0% | 42.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 1.9% | 24.7% |
| Asian (%) | 0.5% | 2.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.7% | 4.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 10.8/20 | 15.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 96 mi | 77 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 81.8% | 82.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 20.31 | 77.91 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Altoona or Harrisburg more affordable?
- Altoona has the lower cost of living: its index is $40k, compared with Altoona's $40k and Harrisburg's $47k. Median rent is $795 in Altoona versus $944 in Harrisburg.
- Is Altoona or Harrisburg safer?
- Harrisburg has the lower violent crime rate. Altoona reports 1125/100k and Harrisburg reports 1110/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Altoona or Harrisburg?
- The median home value is $111k in Altoona and $112k in Harrisburg, so homes are more affordable in Altoona.