Altoona, IA vs Lancaster, TX
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Altoona
75.4
#455 nationally
Lancaster
69.9
#1155 nationally
Altoona leads in crime level (3.9 vs 11.2). Altoona leads in median household income ($89,100 vs $65,323). Altoona leads in average commute (23.1 min vs 29.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Altoona, IA | Lancaster, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.4 (#455) | 69.9 (#1155) |
| Population | 21,698 | 40,215 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $321,727 | $273,149 |
| Median Household Income | $89,100 | $65,323 |
| Average Commute | 23.1 min | 29.7 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 22 |
| Crime Level | 3.9 | 11.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 99 | 98 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | D+22.2 |
Data coverage note: Altoona is missing data for 1 metric that Lancaster has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
75.4 Score
Altoona, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$321,727
Population
21,698
Crime
Low
Median Income
$89,100
Midwest
View Altoona, IA →
D+
69.9 Score
Lancaster, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$273,149
Population
40,215
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
22
Southwest
View Lancaster, TX →