City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Alma Center, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Alma Center - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

583
Residents
$64,375
Median income
$121,300
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Alma Center - the verdict

Nationally, Alma Center sits in the 42nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

42nd
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Alma Center, WI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 583 residents in Alma Center, a small town within Wisconsin. The typical household in Alma Center brings in $64,375 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Typical homes in Alma Center are valued around $121,300, and the median resident age is 32.5 years. 14.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Alma Center (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: the state registers 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 48.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

583 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$64,375 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Alma Center compare to other US cities?

Alma Center measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 42% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Alma Center against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Alma Center near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Alma Center ranks #499 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Alma Center only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#442 of 753
41st percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#499 of 761
0th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#624 of 754
17th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#468 of 761
38th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#552 of 761
27th percentile in Wisconsin

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

42ndIncome percentile

42nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Alma Center's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$121,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Alma Center $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Alma Center, WI Alma Center, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Alma Center, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Alma Center, WI median $64,375/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Alma Center, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Alma Center, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
583
Median Income
$64,375
Median Home Value
$121,300
Median Age
32.5
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
470 residents475 residents480 residents485 residents490 residents 202020212022202320242025 485 residents 473 residents ▼ -2.5%
Alma Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.1%
Carpool
9.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
4.5%

Based on 313 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Alma Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
48.1 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Plum City
582 people
Star Prairie
579 people
Gays Mills
577 people
Park Ridge
589 people
Bayfield
590 people
Forestville
576 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Alma Center's 583 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fort Yukon, AK
583 people
Stotonic, AZ
583 people
Lewis, IN
583 people
Chaplin, KY
583 people
Kingfield, ME
583 people
Shelbyville, MO
583 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Alma Center's $64,375 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Franklin, ID
$64,375 median income
Greenleaf, ID
$64,375 median income
Lake of the Woods, IN
$64,375 median income
Lake City, IA
$64,375 median income
Little Rock, IA
$64,375 median income
Bath, MI
$64,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Alma Center, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Alma Center, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.6% 6.2% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.2% White 86.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.2% Two or more races 7.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Alma Center compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Alma Center (this city) 583 $64,375
Plum City 582 $58,750
Star Prairie 579 $71,667
Gays Mills 577 $35,682
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Alma Center, WI?

What is the population of Alma Center, WI? +

Alma Center, WI has a population of 583 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Alma Center, WI? +

In Alma Center, the typical household earns $64,375 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Alma Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Alma Center; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Alma Center, WI? +

A typical home in Alma Center is worth $121,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.