I 540 begins concurring with I-40 near, 2011
Alma’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 504 in 1880, 5,825 in 2020. The archive holds 20 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 5 maps from 1906 on.
- 1871Alma is settled
Population
6,071
2025 Census estimate · +4.2% since 2020
Typical home
$252K
+5.5% in a year
Household income
$69K
median
Median age
27.2
years
Jobs based here
2,177
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#83 of 123 in AR
Is Alma a good place to live?
Alma grades D overall, 83rd among Arkansas's 123 graded towns, mostly because of health and incomes. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 82% of the country. The median household income is $69K, and 27% of residents live below the poverty line. One bright spot: its schools outperform 72% of the state's. 27% of residents live below the poverty line in Alma, above both the Arkansas town median (17%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). On cost of living, just 13 of Arkansas’ 201 towns do worse. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 76% of U.S. towns.
What makes Alma stand out
Where Alma beats most towns.
How Alma grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Alma is from typical.
HealthBaptist Health - Van Buren 8.1 miles awayC−Open →Jobs & incomeC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.1 of 20; 3.2% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SafetyCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 1% conserved landC+Open →History2 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 93° summer afternoons, 4″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here19% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Alma: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Alma, and how to reach them.
PowerOG&E11.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAlma WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerMR. TRASH picks up at the curb for every homeTown site
Register to voteIn personArkansas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCrawford County ClerkCrawford County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2015
ZIP code7292172921 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Alma.
Alma trades workers with Fort Smith and other neighbors, looks healthier within Arkansas than nationally and has seen reported crime fall by a third or more.
HealthC−
For health, Alma earns a C−
Within Arkansas it is healthier than 53% of the 123 graded towns: much of Arkansas scores lower on these measures.
28% of Alma adults have been diagnosed with depression. Alma beats the Arkansas average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 21% of Alma adults report frequent mental distress.
18%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Alma | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 25% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 19% | 17% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 25% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Arkansas
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Alma | AR |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 25.2% | 18.6% |
Baptist Health - Van Buren
8.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
53rd
percentile among AR towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB+
For schools, Alma earns a B+
Its public schools are run by the Alma School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Alma High School, with 981 students.
72%of AR districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 722 | B+ |
| Alma High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 981 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
The median age in Alma is lower than in the typical Arkansas or U.S. town
Alma’s median age is 27.2 years. Alma has grown 4.2% since 2020, to 6,071 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 13% of residents are 65 or older in Alma.
27.2median age · AR 38.5
| Alma | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.2 years | 36.6 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 19% | 20% | 29% |
AlmaArkansasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma10%
High school28%
Some college26%
Associate’s17%
Bachelor’s12%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.6 points. Across Arkansas, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Alma | AR | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 17.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 18% | 10.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.6% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.2% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.2% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.8% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.4% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.7% | 11.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.1% | 34.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.4% | 20.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.8% | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 11.9% | 16.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
SafetyC
Alma reports more crime per resident than 73% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 142 to 92 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The violent crime rate in Alma is 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Within Arkansas, it does better than 56% of towns.
27%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Alma | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.8 per 1,000 residents | 3.6 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 11.4 per 1,000 residents | 13.8 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Alma3.8
Arkansas5.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Alma11.4
Arkansas16.7
U.S.15.5
27th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
56th
percentile among AR towns
23
violent crimes reported in 2025
69
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsC+
0.8% of Alma is conserved land
1.5 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. Lake Alma Park, at 219 acres with 1.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#56for trails in AR
| Alma | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.8% | 0.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
0.8%
conserved · 30 of 3,759 acres
1.5 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lake Alma Park | 1.3 mi | 219 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Alma has mild winters and hot summers
Alma has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. Only 4 of the 123 Arkansas towns we compare have a higher July high than Alma.
4″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–53°
Spring49–73°
Summer68–91°
Fall50–74°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 25
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
About one in three of Alma’s working residents commute to Fort Smith
Alma has about as many jobs (2,177) as working residents, but only 306 people both live and work here.
Most working residents leave Alma for work: only 15% work in town. Since 2013, Alma has added 192 jobs, to 2,177 in 2023. The top destinations are Fort Smith (35%), Van Buren (13%) and Little Rock (4%).
15%work in town
| Alma | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 22% | 8% |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Alma15%
Fort Smith35%
Van Buren13%
Little Rock4%
Fayetteville3%
13 mi
median commute distance
2,177
jobs based in Alma
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 24% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
A typical Alma home is worth about $252K
The typical Alma home is worth about $252,000, up 5.5% in a year, 13% above the Arkansas typical home.
$252KZillow home value
| Alma | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 47% | 60% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,012 a month | $875 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Alma$252K
Arkansas$224K
+5.5%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Alma
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities. Since 2020, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Alma.
57risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2020
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 15 attractions →Spiro Mounds and 9 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Alma. Close and well known come first.
24 mi Ancient siteSpiro Mounds
39 mi MountainMount Magazine
40 mi Stadium & arenaDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
20 mi State parkDevil's Den State Park
14 mi National Historic SiteFort Smith National Historic Site107K visitors a year
21 mi National forestOzark–St. Francis National ForestSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Spiro Mounds: Herb Roe Original uploader was Heironymous Rowe at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Magazine: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium: Bobak at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Devil's Den State Park: jaystout, CC BY 2.0 · Fort Smith National Historic Site: Photolitherland (talk) Chris Litherland, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ozark–St. Francis National Forest: Paul A. Mistretta, USDA Forest Service, CC BY 3.0 us
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Alma
20pages on Alma
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 72% of AR districts · 4 schoolsSafetyC3.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than AR on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$252K typical home · up 5.5% in a yearWork & commuteC−$69K median household income · 2,177 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 57% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Alma
University of Arkansas-Fort SmithUniversity or college · Public · Fort Smith11.8 mi$7,334 in-state tuitionArkansas Colleges of Health EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Fort Smith13.5 mi
About 5 of every 100 Alma residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arkansas.
About Alma
City in Arkansas, United States
Alma is a city in Crawford County, in far western Arkansas, United States. It is located within the Arkansas River Valley at the edge of the Ozark Mountains; the city is the sixth largest in the Fort Smith metropolitan area. The population was 5,825 at the 2020 Census. Interstates 40 and 49 were constructed to intersect near the existing city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1874
- Area
- 5.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 436 ft
- ZIP code
- 72921
- Area code
- 479
Questions about Alma
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Alma, AR a good place to live?
Alma grades D overall, better than 11% of U.S. towns and #83 of 123 in Arkansas. It grades C− for health, C for safety and B+ for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Alma, AR safe?
Within Arkansas, it does better than 56% of towns.
Is Alma, AR expensive?
That is 4.3 years of the area's median household income ($58,468 across the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is Alma, AR known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Kiley Dean and Charlene Fite.