The Town FilesAltoona, Alabama
Town in Etowah County · population 948 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $114,100
- Household income
- $43,056
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 40.9
Altoona is a town of 948 people in Etowah County, Alabama. The median home is worth $114,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of Alabama towns, better for retirees than 77% of Alabama towns, quieter than 72% of Alabama towns.
How Altoona ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Altoona is worth $114,100, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $43,056, which is more affordable than 62% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $380 a month. 65.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altoona | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,100 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $380 | $834 |
| Median household income | $43,056 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.4% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Altoona
| People | Altoona | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.7% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Altoona
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.9°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altoona since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 0.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 19, 2018.
Severe weather in Etowah County since 1996
Etowah County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4555: Severe Thunderstorms |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Etowah County
Etowah County had 33,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Altoona itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Altoona
1 public school with 376 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West End Elementary School | PK-6 | 376 | 15.7 |
Towns near Altoona
- Walnut Grove, AL2.0 mi · 773 people · home $131,100
- Gallant, AL5.1 mi · 869 people · home $99,200
- Bristow Cove, AL6.0 mi · 624 people · home —
- Susan Moore, AL6.6 mi · 787 people · home $119,600
- Snead, AL7.2 mi · 1,032 people · home $175,200
- New Union, AL7.8 mi · 1,019 people · home $168,000
- Egypt, AL8.4 mi · 845 people · home $207,600
- Douglas, AL8.9 mi · 761 people · home $175,400
Altoona questions
Is Altoona, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altoona scores better for retirees than 77% of Alabama towns and quieter than 72%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Altoona?
The median owner-occupied home in Altoona is valued at $114,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,056, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $380 a month.
What is the weather like in Altoona?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 32.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Altoona get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altoona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)