Side-by-side comparison of Altoona, PA and Chambersburg, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Altoona has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.19% compared to Chambersburg's 2.65%. 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 $280,000 in Chambersburg, while rents come in at $960/mo and $1,200/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 Chambersburg'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 Chambersburg. Vacancy rates of 6% and 6% are mixed — Chambersburg has the tighter rental market.
Entry point: Altoona offers a lower entry at $170K vs Chambersburg's $280K — a difference of $110K. With a 20% down payment, that's $34K vs $56K. Altoona combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.
Bottom line: Altoona edges out Chambersburg 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 Chambersburg.