PlainZIP

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
$55,046
Median income
$125,700
Median home value
21.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

21th 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.

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 Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $33,384. Poverty here runs at 14.5%, with unemployment measured at 6.3%. The typical home here is valued at $125,700 (45% below the state average); renters pay a median of $869 monthly, and 67.3% of units are owner-occupied.

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. A geography-based comparison follows: 7 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 16602, plus 6 more within Blair County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 16602?

43.7

Median Age

49.9%

Male

50.1%

Female

1.7%

Foreign-Born

White 90.7%
African American 3.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.9%
Hispanic or Latino 1.4%

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

$33,384

Per Capita Income

14.5%

Poverty Rate

6.3%

Unemployment Rate

17.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 16602 ranks nationally

Altoona, PA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$55,046 21st percentile higher than 21% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 68.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

13,154

Total Housing Units

11,574

Occupied Units

1,580

Vacant Units

2.23

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.3%
Renter 32.7%

$125,700

Median Home Value

-45% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 16602 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 16602 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
16601 Altoona, PA 33,870 3.0 mi
16648 Hollidaysburg, PA 15,538 5.5 mi
16617 Bellwood, PA 2,806 6.7 mi
16665 Newry, PA 299 9.1 mi
16635 Duncansville, PA 11,321 9.1 mi
16619 Blandburg, PA 347 11.0 mi
16636 Dysart, PA 742 9.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Blair County

16601 standard
Altoona, PA
Pop: 33,870
16648 standard
Hollidaysburg, PA
Pop: 15,538
16686 standard
Tyrone, PA
Pop: 13,488
16635 standard
Duncansville, PA
Pop: 11,321
16662 standard
Martinsburg, PA
Pop: 6,040
16673 standard
Roaring Spring, PA
Pop: 5,519

Related Areas

Blair County Altoona, PA Pennsylvania

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.