Residential comparison · 13 facts
Altoona, PA vs Norristown, PA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Altoona needs about $94,500 in Norristown to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Norristown, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $75,500 in Altoona.
A few differences
- Norristown is higher on median household income ($66,701 vs $51,250).
- Altoona is lower on cost of living index (77 vs 92).
- Altoona is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($795/mo vs $1,525/mo).
Altoona vs Norristown · facet by facet
| Facet | Altoona, PA | Norristown, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $119,900 | $213,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $795/mo | $1,525/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| State & local income tax | 4.57% | 4.57% |
| Sales tax | 6.34% | 6.34% |
| Cost of living index | 77 | 92 |
| Groceries index | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $51,250 | $66,701 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Crime index | 40/100 | 40/100 |
| School rating | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 180 days | 180 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Altoona, PA · Norristown, PA
Questions & answers
- Is Altoona cheaper than Norristown?
- Altoona has the lower day-to-day cost index (77 vs 92 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Norristown equals $85,000 in Altoona?
- A household earning $85,000 in Altoona needs about $94,500 in Norristown to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Norristown lifestyle costs about $75,500 in Altoona.