Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Alma’s median age is 55.9 years, against 42.1 years in Wisconsin’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Only 6 of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower share of children under 18 than Alma. 13% of the land in Alma is conserved, against 3.8% in Wisconsin’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Its National Register listings include Frederick Laue House and Tester and Polin General Merchandise Store. Alma has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Alma beats most towns.
Census counts: 565 in 1870, a peak of 1,428 in 1890, 716 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1866 and 3 maps from 1932 on.
11 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Alma, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Alma.
People 65 and older are 30% of residents (19% statewide); children under 18 are 12% of residents (21% statewide). 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 30% | 20% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 28% | 32% | 29% |
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.9 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Alma | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.7% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5.2% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.9% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.5% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 22% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.7% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.1% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.9% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.8% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.6% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.8% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.7% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.2% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 700, single groups can be off by several points
Its public schools are run by the Alma School District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 184 | B |
| Alma HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 80 | B |
NCES · EDFacts
The typical Alma home is worth about $255,000, up 8.6% in a year, 24% below the Wisconsin typical home. Alma’s median rent is $725 a month.
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $725 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 67% | 74% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Alma has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Among 363 Wisconsin towns, just 8 have a higher July high than Alma.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
0.6 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Alma Beach and Recreational Area, at 28 acres. The trail density in Alma is 0.1 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | — | 521 |
| 2. Alma Beach and Recreational Area | — | 28 |
| 3. Rieck's Lake Park and Campground | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Most working residents leave Alma for work: only 10% work in town. 14% of residents live below the poverty line in Alma. Since 2013, Alma has lost 35 jobs, to 397 in 2023.
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.9% | 8.3% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Alma beats the Wisconsin average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 31% of Alma adults get no exercise outside work.
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 33% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Alma | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.8% | 9.9% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.4% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.4% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. Since 2000, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Alma.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Alma; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Alma residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
11 places in Alma on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in Wisconsin, United States
Alma is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 716 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Alma has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
2 notable people were born here, including Bruce Hunter and James Arthur Mathieu.
