Altoona, PA · standard
ZIP Code 16602
Blair County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,554
- 771/sq mi High-density area
- $55,046
- Median income Below-median income area
- $125,700
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 21.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Altoona pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 21st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 19th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 771
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 16602 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 16602 (Altoona, PA) fell -8.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 205.4 in 2023 to 188.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 16602 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania, with 29,554 residents across 38.3 square miles, a density of 771 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 16602 reports a modest median household income of $55,046 (29% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,384. The poverty rate is 14.5%, with unemployment at 6.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $125,700 (45% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), and median rent is $869; owner occupancy is 67.3%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.7, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Blair County, so 16602 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 16602
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Altoona, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 16602.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
200 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
147 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
124 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
120 establishments
- Finance and insurance 72
Finance and insurance
72 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 16602, Altoona, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
29,554
Population
38.3
Area (sq mi)
771
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 16602?
43.7
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
1.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$55,046
Median Household Income
-29% vs state ZIP avg
$33,384
Per Capita Income
14.5%
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Unemployment Rate
17.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 16602 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Altoona, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$55,046 16th percentile higher than 16% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
13,154housing units
13,154
Total Housing Units
11,574
Occupied Units
1,580
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$125,700
Median Home Value
-45% vs state ZIP avg
$869
Median Rent
1951
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-8.1%
YoY Change (2024)
189
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+89%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 16602 have decreased 8.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +89% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.3% | 153 |
| 2021 | +9.6% | 168 |
| 2022 | +11.2% | 186 |
| 2023 | +10.3% | 205 |
| 2024 | -8.1% | 189 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,016 business establishments in ZIP 16602, employing approximately 17,909 people with a combined annual payroll of $963,085,000.
1,016
Businesses
17,909
Employees
$963.1M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 200 | 19.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 147 | 14.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 124 | 12.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 120 | 11.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 72 | 7.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 72 | 7.1% |
| Construction | 52 | 5.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 47 | 4.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 43 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 38 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 23 | 2.3% |
| Information | 21 | 2.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 16 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 | 0.8% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 16602 vs 16601 →
ZIP 16602 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 16601
Altoona (16601)
33,870 residents
- 16602
Altoona (16602)
29,554 residents
- 16648
Hollidaysburg (16648)
15,538 residents
- 16635 11,321
Duncansville (16635)
11,321 residents
- 16617 2,806
Bellwood (16617)
2,806 residents
- 16636 742
Dysart (16636)
742 residents
- 16619 347
Blandburg (16619)
347 residents
- 16665 299
Newry (16665)
299 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 16602 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 16602 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 16636
Dysart (16636)
$89,821 median income
- 16619
Blandburg (16619)
$85,357 median income
- 16648
Hollidaysburg (16648)
$81,540 median income
- 16635
Duncansville (16635)
$69,760 median income
- 16665
Newry (16665)
$66,250 median income
- 16601
Altoona (16601)
$58,070 median income
- 16602
Altoona (16602)
$55,046 median income
- 16617
Bellwood (16617)
$52,609 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 16602 ranks #7 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 16602, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (29,554 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Blair County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 16602 in?
ZIP code 16602 (Altoona) is located in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Blair County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/blair-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 16602?
ZIP code 16602 in Altoona, PA has a population of 29,554 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 16602?
The median household income in ZIP 16602 is $55,046, which is 28% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 16602?
The median home value in ZIP 16602 is $125,700, which is 55% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 16602?
The largest racial group in ZIP 16602 is White at 90.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 16602?
ZIP code 16602 has 1,016 business establishments employing approximately 17,909 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 16602?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 16602 are: Retail trade (200), Health care and social assistance (147), Other services (except public administration) (124). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 16602?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 16602 decreased by 8.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 89%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 16602?
In ZIP code 16602, 68.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 16602?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 16602 is 17.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 16602?
In ZIP code 16602, approximately 67.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 16602?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 16602 is 14.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 16602's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 16602 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Altoona, PA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.