Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 12 min5:39 am – 8:51 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 9 min7:37 am – 4:46 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People22,886 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 37.09,077 householdsMedian household income $88,447Median home value $278,300Median rent $1,232 a month71% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $4,418 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting7.1% unemployment rate70% of adults are in the labour force, 11,440 employedMain industries: education and health care 21%, retail 17%, finance, insurance and real estate 13%Average commute 23 minutes80% drive alone, 4% car-pool, 13% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages34% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher96% finished high school, 11% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 84°F, lows 64°FColdest month January: highs 30°F, lows 13°F37 in of rain a year, on about 66 dayswettest month June25 in of snow a year, on about 15 days14 days above 90°F, 137 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Des Moines 17 E station, 11 mi away; snow from Ankeny
Nearby landmarksAvon Lakelake · 8.6 miClarks Lakelake · 6.2 miGrand View Universitycollege · 7.6 miDes Moines Area Community College - Ankeny Campuscollege · 8.9 miNorth Riverriver · 8.9 miRaccoon Riverriver · 9.0 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsSam Wise Youth Complexpark · under a mile · 67 acresSoccer Parkpark · under a mile · 79 acresGay Lea Wilson Trailstate recreation area · 2.4 miChichaqua Valley Trailstate recreation area · 5.8 mi · 61 acresStrasser Woods State Preservestate conservation land · 4.8 miMargo Frankel Woods State Parkstate park · 8.3 mi · 133 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
EarthquakesNone of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 1970Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModeratePolk County, IA, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsStrong wind Very HighTornado Relatively HighHail Relatively HighHeat wave Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality61% of days had good air in 2025224 of 365 days measured139 moderate, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 44, worst day 136main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Polk County monitors, IA
Internet at home94% of households have a broadband subscription75% have cable, fibre or DSL13% rely on a mobile data plan alone4% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterAltoona Water Supplyserves 19,565 people from ground water1 health-based violation since 2021latest Jul 2024: gross alpha radiation, maximum contaminant level1 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation961 ft293 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalIowa Lutheran Hospital8.3 miPost officeAltoona Post Officeunder a mileTown hallAltoona City Hallunder a milePoliceAltoona Police Departmentunder a mileFire stationAltoona City Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi5 schools4 elementary, 1 middleElementaryCentennial Elementary Schoolright hereElementaryAltoona Elementary Schoolunder a mileMiddleSoutheast Polk Middle Schoolunder a mileCollegeGrand View University7.6 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportDes Moines International Airport DSM13 miInterstateI-801.7 miUS highwayUS 61.7 miAmtrakOsceola, IA OSC45 miCoachDes MoinesGreyhound7.0 miTransit6 stops within a mileDes Moines Area Regional Transit (DART)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 50009 ZIP area.
