Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Alma’s January low is 7°F, below both the Wisconsin town median (11°F) and the median of U.S. towns (22°F). Alma has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
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.
Explore the history →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.
Most working residents leave Alma for work: only 0% work in town. At $61,000, Alma’s median household income is below both Wisconsin’s towns ($87,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). The top destinations are Winona (25%), La Crosse (9%) and Cochrane (5%).
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Alma has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Alma is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 42% of residents (38% statewide). Alma’s median age is 47.1 years. Alma has grown 2.8% since 2020, to 261 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 20% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 32% | 29% |
39% women, 61% men
About 158 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±6 points). Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 78% are men (WI 51%).
| Alma | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.7% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.3% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.5% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.9% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.6% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.4% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 20.3% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.7% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.6% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0.5% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.4% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.2% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 21.3% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.2% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.4% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 300, single groups can be off by several points
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 8 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Alma.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Alma beats the Wisconsin average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 14% of adults have diabetes in Alma.
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 33% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| What stands out | Alma | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.1% | 9.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.7% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.6% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Alma | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.1% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | — | 344 |
| 2. Buena Vista Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Alma; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Alma residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Where Alma’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
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.