1st Advantage MortgageThe median Blair County household earns $62,382, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Blair County at a glance
- How much Blair County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Blair County
- Housing costs in Blair County
- Places inside Blair County
- Blair County and the counties next door
- Blair County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Blair County
- Budget math at the Blair County median
- Lender oversight for Blair County
- A Blair County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Blair County
- Frequently asked questions
Blair County at a glance
With an estimated 121,277 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Blair County ranks 28th of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. Packed into 525 square miles, that is close to 231 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Altoona, PA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 93 places in the county (9 incorporated, 84 census-designated); the largest is Altoona, with about 43,196 residents, or 36% of the county.
How much Blair County households make
At $62,382, the typical Blair County household income is 5% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 47 Pennsylvania counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Blair County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -6.9 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.0% of Blair County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. None of these numbers decides a Blair County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Blair County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Blair County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Retail trade stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 8.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Blair County | Difference from Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -3.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Blair County
A typical Blair County rental runs $885 a month including utilities, which is 27% below Pennsylvania. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $161,100, a typical Blair County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 72%. The median home was built in 1957, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Blair County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $885/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,100 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 24% | n/a |
Because most Blair County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Places inside Blair County
93 Census places fall mainly inside Blair County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 85,398 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Juniata Gap has the highest median household income on the list ($100,385) and Williamsburg the lowest ($50,952), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Williamsburg ($616) and steepest in Hollidaysburg ($1,085). Live in one of these Blair County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | city | 43,196 | $51,250 | $819 | 5 mi |
| Hollidaysburg | borough | 5,558 | $69,458 | $1,085 | 6 mi |
| Tyrone | borough | 5,377 | $57,226 | $788 | 13 mi |
| Greenwood | CDP | 2,853 | $73,250 | $1,045 | 4 mi |
| Penn Farms | CDP | 2,508 | $89,867 | $1,063 | 8 mi |
| Roaring Spring | borough | 2,335 | $62,738 | $701 | 12 mi |
| Loop | CDP | 2,039 | $91,818 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Martinsburg | borough | 1,741 | $71,307 | $860 | 13 mi |
| Bellwood | borough | 1,691 | $52,305 | $989 | 7 mi |
| Lakemont | CDP | 1,644 | $52,955 | $926 | 5 mi |
| Claysburg | CDP | 1,244 | $53,650 | $890 | 16 mi |
| Duncansville | borough | 1,147 | $55,469 | $890 | 8 mi |
| Williamsburg | borough | 1,073 | $50,952 | $616 | 6 mi |
| Tipton | CDP | 730 | $52,045 | $833 | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Blair County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Blair County's, from 19 to 37 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Blair County; Centre County is highest at $74,291 and Cambria County lowest at $58,418.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blair County | - | $62,382 | $885/mo | 72% |
| Huntingdon County, PA | 19 mi | $65,557 | $810/mo | 79% |
| Cambria County, PA | 21 mi | $58,418 | $739/mo | 76% |
| Mifflin County, PA | 35 mi | $63,953 | $822/mo | 71% |
| Bedford County, PA | 36 mi | $59,992 | $784/mo | 78% |
| Clearfield County, PA | 36 mi | $62,152 | $791/mo | 79% |
| Centre County, PA | 37 mi | $74,291 | $1,207/mo | 62% |
Blair County households compared
24% of Blair County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Blair County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.6% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Blair County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Blair County
Where the Blair County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Blair County borrower sees (free reports).
Budget math at the Blair County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Blair County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Blair County: $5,198
- Median rent: $885, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,350: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Blair County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Blair County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Blair County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
A Blair County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Blair County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Pennsylvania license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Blair County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blair County a high-income county?
Its $62,382 median ranks 48th of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Blair County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $885 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Blair County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Tyrone, Greenwood, Penn Farms and 88 more.
Does living in Blair County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Blair County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Blair County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.