Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Altoona, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21% of gross income.

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

Altoona median rent
$1,138/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Pennsylvania)
$64,924/yr
Rent as % of income
21%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,410, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,623/mo in rent. Altoona's median rent of $1,138 leaves roughly $485/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 36.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Millvale, PA
$1,135/mo (21% of income)
New Castle, PA
$1,134/mo (21% of income)
Washington, PA
$1,132/mo (20.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Altoona

View full rent data for Altoona, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Altoona, PA?

Median rent in Altoona is $1,138 a month. A typical real estate agent in Pennsylvania earns about $64,924 a year, which makes that rent 21% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Altoona?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Pennsylvania (~$64,924/yr) supports up to $1,623 a month in rent. Altoona's current median rent is $1,138/mo, which leaves a $485/mo buffer.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Altoona?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a real estate agent in Pennsylvania works roughly 36.5 hours a month to cover Altoona's median rent of $1,138.

Where is rent cheaper than Altoona for a real estate agent?

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 real estate agent 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.