City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Alma, WI

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

792
Residents
$56,284
Median income
$174,500
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Alma - the verdict

Nationally, Alma sits in the 29th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

29th
percentile, household income
35th
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, WI

Wisconsin's Alma is a small town, with 792 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Alma brings in $56,284 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.7%. Typical homes in Alma are valued around $174,500, and the median resident age is 55.0 years. About 30.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 45.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Alma (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier, 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 14.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

792 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$56,284 /yr

Poverty 5.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Alma compare to other US cities?

Here's how Alma stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 35% 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 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 near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

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

Median Household Income
#579 of 753
23rd percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#499 of 761
0th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#386 of 754
49th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#362 of 761
52nd percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#206 of 761
73rd 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.

29thIncome percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Alma's home value compares nationally

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

$174,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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 $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, WI Alma, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Alma, 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, WI median $56,284/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, 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, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.5%

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

Population
792
Median Income
$56,284
Median Home Value
$174,500
Median Age
55.0
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Labor force participation
45.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.2%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
710 residents715 residents720 residents725 residents730 residents 202020212022202320242025 718 residents 718 residents ▲ +0.0%
Alma's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 2
2021 1
2022 2
2023 3
2024 2

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.3%
Carpool
3.3%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
10.6%
Other
2.7%

Based on 330 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 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
14.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Lyndon Station
792 people
Hewitt
791 people
Stockbridge
791 people
Montreal
800 people
Pepin
781 people
Auburndale
807 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Alma's 792 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Challenge-Brownsville, CA
792 people
Hardin, IL
792 people
Alden, IA
792 people
Anacoco, LA
792 people
Varnamtown, NC
792 people
Rockwood, PA
792 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Alma's $56,284 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ligonier, IN
$56,286 median income
Bazine, KS
$56,288 median income
Riverton, WY
$56,280 median income
Franklin CDP (Merced County), CA
$56,274 median income
Timber Pines, FL
$56,298 median income
Pocahontas, IA
$56,298 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Alma, 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, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.9% 6.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.8% White 89.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 6.7% 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 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 (this city) 792 $56,284
Lyndon Station 792 $70,250
Hewitt 791 $89,013
Stockbridge 791 $57,663
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Alma, WI?

What is the population of Alma, WI? +

The population of Alma, WI stands at 792 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Alma runs $56,284, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Alma? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Alma; 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, WI? +

A typical home in Alma is worth $174,500, 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.