Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Altoona, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.6% of gross income.

Altoona rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Altoona median rent
$1,138/mo
Plumber salary (Pennsylvania)
$66,429/yr
Rent as % of income
20.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,536, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,661/mo in rent. Altoona's median rent of $1,138 leaves roughly $523/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 35.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a plumber salary

Plumber pay sits comfortably above the US median household income and covers affordable rent in most US metros. At the national-average plumber salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local plumber-pay estimates so renters can see where the math works.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Altoona, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Millvale, PA
$1,135/mo (20.5% of income)
New Castle, PA
$1,134/mo (20.5% of income)
Washington, PA
$1,132/mo (20.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Altoona

View full rent data for Altoona, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Altoona, PA?

Median rent in Altoona is $1,138 a month. A typical plumber in Pennsylvania earns about $66,429 a year, which makes that rent 20.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Altoona?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Pennsylvania (~$66,429/yr) supports up to $1,661 a month in rent. Altoona's current median rent is $1,138/mo, which leaves a $523/mo buffer.

How many hours does a plumber work to cover rent in Altoona?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a plumber in Pennsylvania works roughly 35.6 hours a month to cover Altoona's median rent of $1,138.

Where is rent cheaper than Altoona for a plumber?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Millvale ($1,135/mo), New Castle ($1,134/mo), Washington ($1,132/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Pennsylvania state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Altoona, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.