Altoona, PA vs New Castle, PA

New Castle is moderately more affordable than Altoona, with a 6.7% lower cost of living index. Altoona scores 64 compared to 60 for New Castle, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Altoona can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Altoona is $789/month compared to $698/month in New Castle — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Castle is more affordable at $72,000 median vs $113,600.

Median household income in Altoona is $50,171 compared to $41,478 in New Castle (+21%). While Altoona is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Altoona spend roughly 18.9% of their income on rent, less than the 20.2% in New Castle.