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City · 8,878 residents · Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Altoona , Wisconsin

In Altoona, a typical home is worth $233,100 and typical rent is $1,285 a month. Compared with all of Eau Claire County, typical rent is 21% higher, typical household income is 13% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $233,100

    11% below the county

    13% below Wisconsin

    • Altoona
    • Eau Claire
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,285a month

    21% above the county

    18% above Wisconsin

    • Altoona
    • Eau Claire
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $84,552a year

    13% above the county

    9% above Wisconsin

    • Altoona
    • Eau Claire
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    52%

    9 points below the county

    16 points below Wisconsin

    • Altoona
    • Eau Claire
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$342,089
2.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,118 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Altoona is in Eau Claire County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Eau Claire County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Altoona apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Rice Lake, the typical rent is $856: 33% less than in Altoona ($1,285).

  2. Nearby, in Rice Lake, the typical home value is $193,800: 17% less than in Altoona ($233,100).

  3. The typical rent in Altoona is $1,285 a month, 21% more than in Eau Claire County as a whole ($1,064).

  4. 52% of households in Altoona own their home, against 61% in Eau Claire County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Altoona

What homes there are in Altoona, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Altoona; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 44%, less than in Eau Claire County (61%).

Mobile homes are 10% of homes in Altoona, more than in Eau Claire County (3%).

Year built

The typical home in Altoona was built in 1990, 12 years after the typical one in Eau Claire County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 93% of owner-occupied homes in Altoona are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Eau Claire County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,665 a month

Eau Claire County: $1,625 a month

Without a mortgage

$629 a month

Eau Claire County: $634 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Eau Claire County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Altoona is $1,665 a month, near the figure in Eau Claire County ($1,625).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Altoona gained value more slowly than in Eau Claire County: 48% since 2015–2019, against 54%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Altoona rose 65%, more than in Eau Claire County (29%).

To compare: typical income in Altoona rose 52%; the home, +48%; the rent, +65%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAltoonaEau Claire CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.8%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.262.302.332.53
Drive alone 79%76%74%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate6%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 12%13%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Altoona has 2.26 people on average, about the same as in Eau Claire County (2.30).

The car rules in Altoona: 79% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Altoona?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Altoona, worth $233,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Altoona, which is $84,552 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $87,685 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Eau Claire County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Altoona. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,159 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,046

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$228,877
Total interest
$329,301
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,936 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,973 a month

  • Tight

    $1,973 to $2,537 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $2,537 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Altoona ($84,552 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,046
Principal & interest$1,550
Property tax$295
Home insurance$97
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$103

You need at least $8,159 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Altoona and Eau Claire County

Altoona is in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Altoona's own numbers

Typical home value
$233,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,285
Typical yearly household income
$84,552
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
1.52%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Eau Claire County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,259
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Eau Claire County.

Everything about Eau Claire County

Buying

Buying a home in Altoona

A typical home in Altoona is worth $233,100: 11% below the county and 13% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Altoona ($84,552 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Altoona 2.8 years
  • Eau Claire 3.5 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Eau Claire County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Eau Claire County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Eau Claire County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +99% +96% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Altoona next to Eau Claire County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Altoona $233,100
  • Eau Claire $261,000
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Altoona $1,285
  • Eau Claire $1,064
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Altoona $84,552
  • Eau Claire $74,546
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Altoona next to Eau Claire County and Wisconsin
Measure Altoona Eau Claire County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $233,100 $261,000 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,285 $1,064 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $84,552 $74,546 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 52% 61% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,535 $3,514 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.52% 1.35% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 32% 39% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Eau Claire County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Altoona

For a typical $233,100 home in Altoona, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Altoona's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,046a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,159
    Cash to close
    $15,152
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $103

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,003a month

    Down payment
    $11,655
    Cash to close
    $18,648
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $111

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,656a month

    Down payment
    $46,620
    Cash to close
    $53,613
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,871a month

    Down payment
    $34,965
    Cash to close
    $41,958
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Altoona and for Eau Claire County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Altoona

1.52%of the home’s value each year

$3,535 a year for the typical owner in Altoona.

  • Altoona 1.52%
  • Eau Claire 1.35%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Eau Claire County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Eau Claire County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
632
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.5%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.5% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Altoona

Typical rent in Altoona is $1,285 a month: 21% above the county. In Altoona, 32% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Eau Claire County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,259 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.21 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Eau Claire County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
1 bedroom $1,017 $19.56 $40,680
2 bedrooms $1,259 $24.21 $50,360
3 bedrooms $1,695 $32.60 $67,800
4 bedrooms $1,701 $32.71 $68,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Altoona

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Altoona is in ZIP code 54720.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,450: $191 more than the fair market rent for Eau Claire County ($1,259).

  • 54720 $1,450$1,950

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Altoona when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Altoona

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Altoona. These are the largest.

  • Golden Acres 2404 Spooner Ave, Altoona 54720 36 low-income homes · Run by Altoona Housing Authority · Average payment: $379 a month · Average wait: 7 months · Homes at several sites (715) 834-1842
  • Golden Acres II 138 10th St W, Altoona 54720 24 low-income homes · For older adults (715) 834-7852
  • Altoona New Construction 1028 Sunset Ln, Altoona 54720 15 low-income homes · Run by Eau Claire County Housing Authority · Average payment: $668 a month · Average wait: 18 months · Homes at several sites (715) 839-6240

See all 21 buildings in Eau Claire County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Altoona

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Eau Claire County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Altoona

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Altoona or Eau Claire County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Altoona the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Altoona

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Altoona, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

    1 Better Way, Eau Claire · 3 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL) and Hmong.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Homelessness services
    • and 2 more
    (715) 836-7511

  • First Nations Community Financial

    206 S Roosevelt Rd Ste 123, Black River Falls · 46 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (715) 284-2470

  • CCCS of Sheboygan

    505 King Street, Suite 212, La Crosse · 69 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (844) 307-7220

Every agency in Eau Claire County All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Altoona

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Altoona

HUD’s record names them for Altoona or Eau Claire County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Altoona Housing Authority Public housing (715) 834-1842
  • Eau Claire County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (715) 839-6240

One other authority has an office in Eau Claire County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Eau Claire County

These cities are also in Eau Claire County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Eau Claire County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Altoona, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Eau Claire County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Altoona.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Altoona

Short answers with the numbers for Altoona and all of Eau Claire County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Altoona?

The typical home value in Altoona is $233,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Eau Claire County it is $261,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Altoona?

Typical rent in Altoona is $1,285 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Eau Claire County is $1,259.

What is the FHA loan limit in Altoona?

Altoona uses the FHA limit for all of Eau Claire County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Altoona?

The typical homeowner in Altoona pays $3,535 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.52% of the home’s value; in Eau Claire County, the rate is 1.35%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Altoona?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Eau Claire County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).