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Altoona vs Bloomsburg for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Altoona, PA and Bloomsburg, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

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Altoona wins 3–0 across key metrics
Altoona leads on cash flow (4.19% vs 3.32% cap rate)
Metric
Altoona, PA
Bloomsburg, PA
Est. Cap Rate
4.19%
3.32%
Median Home Price
$170,000
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$960
$1,170
1% Rule
0.56%
0.49%
GRM
14.8x
17.1x
Price / Income
3.6x
5.0x
Property Tax Rate
1.38%
1.38%
Vacancy Rate
6%
6%
Population Growth
0.2% / yr
0.2% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.3%
2.3%
Population
50,000
50,000
Median Income
$47,800
$47,800

Altoona vs Bloomsburg: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Altoona has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.19% compared to Bloomsburg's 3.32%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $170,000 in Altoona vs $240,000 in Bloomsburg, while rents come in at $960/mo and $1,170/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Altoona is growing faster at 0.2% annually vs Bloomsburg's 0.2%. Altoona leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.38% in Altoona vs 1.38% in Bloomsburg. Vacancy rates of 6% and 6% are mixed — Bloomsburg has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Altoona offers a lower entry at $170K vs Bloomsburg's $240K — a difference of $70K. With a 20% down payment, that's $34K vs $48K. Altoona combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Altoona edges out Bloomsburg on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.19%, Altoona's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Altoona or Bloomsburg.

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Altoona, PA
4.19% cap rate · $170,000 median · $960/mo
Full analysis →
Bloomsburg, PA
3.32% cap rate · $240,000 median · $1,170/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Altoona or Bloomsburg better for rental investing?
Altoona wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Altoona's 4.19% cap rate and $170K median price offer both higher returns and a lower entry point.
What is the cap rate difference between Altoona and Bloomsburg?
Altoona has a 4.19% cap rate vs Bloomsburg's 3.32% — a difference of 0.87 percentage points. This is a relatively small difference — other factors like growth, taxes, and local market conditions may matter more. For context, the national average is 3.81%.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Bloomsburg has lower property taxes at 1.38% vs 1.38%. On a $205K property, that's a difference of approximately $966/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Altoona is growing at 0.2% annually vs Bloomsburg's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Altoona's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

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