Altoona, IA vs Lexington, KY
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
Lexington
71.9
#950 nationally
Altoona leads in median household income ($89,100 vs $61,742). Lexington leads in average commute (20.8 min vs 23.1 min). Lexington leads in cost of living index (93 vs 99).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Altoona, IA | Lexington, KY |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.4 (#455) | 71.9 (#950) |
| Population | 21,698 | 324,756 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $321,727 | $334,819 |
| Median Household Income | $89,100 | $61,742 |
| Average Commute | 23.1 min | 20.8 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 36 |
| Crime Level | 3.9 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 99 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | D+18.1 |
Data coverage note: Altoona is missing data for 1 metric that Lexington 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 →
C-
71.9 Score
Lexington, KY
Horse Capital of the World
Median Home
$334,819
Population
324,756
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Lexington, KY →