Moving to Altoona: Pros, Cons & What to Know
Moving to Altoona means moving to the real, historic home of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works -- a genuinely affordable central Pennsylvania city anchored today by UPMC Altoona, Sheetz, and Penn State Altoona.
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Learn moreA real, historic railroad identity, honestly updated
Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849, and the real, active Horseshoe Curve remains a National Historic Landmark -- though Norfolk Southern's current local workforce runs substantially smaller than the historic peak.
Today's real major employers
UPMC Altoona (a 380-bed regional hospital) and Sheetz (genuinely headquartered in Altoona) anchor the city's current economy, alongside Penn State Altoona.
Genuine, substantial affordability
Altoona's home prices run among the most affordable of every Pennsylvania Tier A market in this project's batch.
Key takeaways
- Altoona's railroad heritage is real and historic, honestly updated with today's smaller Norfolk Southern presence.
- UPMC Altoona, Sheetz, and Penn State Altoona anchor the city's current economy.
- Altoona's housing runs genuinely, substantially affordable.
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