Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,488 at the 2020 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905. Alma hosts the annual Highland Festival on Memorial Day weekend. It brings members of Scottish clans and interested onlookers together for a weekend of Highland dancing, bagpipes, kilts, and camaraderie. Alma College, a small liberal-arts institution of approximately 1,300 students, is located in town and focuses on multidisciplinary learning in a residential setting.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Alma ranks

All →

#14Closest to a top hospital in MI #38Most affordable in MI #106Shortest commute in MI All MI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code48801

Area code989

Living in Alma

Housing in Alma

$167K▲ 6.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Alma home is worth about $167,000, up 6.3% in a year, 37% below the Michigan typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market70

Sale-to-list99.9%

Sold in May16

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Alma

Safety Grade C

Alma reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 66% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Alma 3

Michigan 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Alma 8.5

Michigan 13

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Alma

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 42% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 76% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Michigan

2worse than MI

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 30 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

13.2%More older adults who have lost all their teethMI 10.2% · worse 84.4%Fewer adults getting cholesterol checkedMI 87.4% · worse

Care nearby

Mymichigan Medical Center AlmaAlma · 0.8 mi · ER

Women's Health Center of Isabella Citizens for HealthMount Pleasant · 15.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Alma · CMS · HRSAHealth in Alma →

Natural hazards in Alma

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind

20Does Alma flood?paid flood claims since 1986 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Alma MapAlma vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Alma →

Schools in Alma

All Alma schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Alma’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 60% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Alma’s schools compare in MI →

DistrictAlma Public SchoolsSchools8

Hillcrest Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades 1–3 · 400 students Pine Avenue Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades 4–5 · 265 students Luce Road Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–K · 141 students St. Mary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–6 · 154 students Donald L Pavlik Middle School B-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 457 students Alma Senior High School B+High · Grades 9–12 · 552 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.