City · Arkansas
Alma, Arkansas
Alma, city, in Crawford County, Arkansas. Alma had 6,071 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,825 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,906 (±17). GEOID 0500970.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,071
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,825 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,906 ±17
Median household income
$68,562
±$9,884 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$233,600
±$40,222 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$1,012
±$210 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Alma and what county is it in?
Alma is a city in Crawford County, Arkansas. It covers 5.7 square miles of land, 1,016 residents per square mile in 2020.
Alma is in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Alma, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,071 people lived in Alma on July 1, 2025, up 4.2% since 2020, faster than Arkansas (+3.4%). The 2020 Census counted 5,825 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,906 (±17).
| Measure | Alma | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,906 ±17 | 61,139 | +164 |
| Households | 1,896 ±220 | 23,357 | −383 |
| Average household size | 3.08 ±0.35 | 2.59 | +0.59 |
| Housing units | 2,000 ±223 | 25,621 | −517 |
Alma's population since 2000
From 4,160 in 2000 to 6,071 in 2025: up 45.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Alma as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Alma?
The median resident of Alma is 27.2 years old; 35.7% are under 18 and 13.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 7.3%.
| Measure | Alma | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.2 ±5.6 | 39.2 | −6.4 |
| Under 18 years | 35.7% ±7.7 pts | 23.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.2% ±4.0 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 48.1% ±5.5 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.6% ±3.3 pts | 8.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.3% ±7.6 pts | 79.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±3.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.3% ±5.8 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.3% ±2.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±4.0 pts | 9.7% | – |
| With a disability | 15.7% ±5.0 pts | 19.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.6% ±3.6 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.3% ±4.9 pts | 86.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.9% ±5.9 pts | 20.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.0% ±4.3 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 78.6% ±12.0 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Alma earn?
Half of Alma's 1,896 households earn less than $68,562 a year (±$9,884), against $64,132 in Crawford County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 the median was $50,438 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $18,124 after inflation. 27.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Alma | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,562 ±$9,884 | $64,132 | +$18,124 |
| Mean household income | $72,375 ±$9,355 | $80,026 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,196 ±$3,992 | $30,712 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.3% ±12.2 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 49.9% ±23.8 pts | 21.0% | +25.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.9% ±8.9 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.3% ±1.0 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.4% ±10.4 pts | 88.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Alma?
Owners occupy 47.0% of Alma's occupied homes and renters 53.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $233,600 by its owner (±$40,222). The median renter pays $1,012 a month including utilities, and 33.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Alma | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $233,600 ±$40,222 | $182,800 | +$54,042 |
| Median gross rent | $1,012 ±$210 | $851 | +$255 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.9% ±15.1 pts | 33.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,456 ±$144 | $1,262 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 47.0% ±10.0 pts | 75.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 53.0% ±10.0 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,000 ±223 | 25,621 | −517 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.4% ±9.8 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.3% ±11.3 pts | 76.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.4% ±2.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 21.4% ±8.0 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.2% ±1.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.2% ±2.9 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Alma building?
Builders took permits for 25 new housing units in Alma in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 4.1 per 1,000 residents against 5.0 across Arkansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Alma work and get to work?
84.5% of Alma's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 27.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.6%.
| Measure | Alma | Crawford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.4% ±6.6 pts | 55.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.6% ±4.4 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.5% ±6.8 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.9% ±5.3 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.5% ±4.4 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.6 min ±8.1 | 24.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Alma?
1 census tract lies mostly in Alma, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 206.02Crawford County | 7,088 | $71,075 |
| Tract 204.02Crawford County | 4,406 | $65,509 |
| Tract 206.01Crawford County | 1,994 | $60,066 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Alma) · Census block assignment files
How does Alma compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Alma is the 4,388th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 60th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Alma ranks 44th of 194 places in Arkansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 60th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 59th | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 40th | 197 |
| Median household income | 44th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 156th | 197 |
| Median home value | 28th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 46th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 29th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 91st | 189 |
| Median age | 195th | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 179th | 197 |
| Travel time to work | 27th | 197 |
Alma's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Alma with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Alma?
19 of the 57 figures for Alma on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Alma are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Alma.