Side-by-side comparison of Harrisburg, PA and Altoona, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Altoona has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.19% compared to Harrisburg's 3.07%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $300,000 in Harrisburg vs $170,000 in Altoona, while rents come in at $1,410/mo and $960/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 Harrisburg's 0.1%. Altoona leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.4% in Harrisburg vs 1.38% in Altoona. Vacancy rates of 6.5% and 6% are mixed — Altoona has the tighter rental market.
Entry point: Altoona offers a lower entry at $170K vs Harrisburg's $300K — a difference of $130K. With a 20% down payment, that's $34K vs $60K. Altoona combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.
Bottom line: Altoona edges out Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg or Altoona.