Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel, Lock & Dam No. 4 · Library of Congress
Alma’s story
Alma in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 11 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →
AlmaWI
A town of 788. Home to 11 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: not specified · Public domain
Population
788
−8.3% since 2010
Median home value
$178K
Census ACS
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
55.9
years
Jobs based here
397
Balanced
What makes Alma stand out
The 2 things Alma does most differently from other towns.
Small town
788 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
AlmaGreenfieldNelsonBelvidereAlma
Alma’s report card
Now in Alma
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Alma? Is a B− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Alma’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Alma. Another town gets a different order.
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Alma has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
40″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring35–57°
Summer59–81°
Fall39–59°
Oct 14
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Outdoors
13.2% of Alma is conserved land
0.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves.
13.2%conserved
13.2%
conserved · 662 of 5,029 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | — | 521 |
| 2. Alma Beach and Recreational Area | — | 28 |
| 3. Rieck's Lake Park and Campground | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
About one in ten working residents works right in Alma
Most working residents leave Alma for work: only 10% work in town. The top destinations are Wabasha (10%), Durand (5%) and La Crosse (4%). Half commute less than 24 miles.
10%work in town
Where working residents work
In Alma10%
Wabasha10%
Durand5%
La Crosse4%
Eau Claire4%
24 mi
median commute distance
397
jobs based in Alma
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Alma is
Alma beats the Wisconsin average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
2 better23 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Alma | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.8% | 9.9% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.4% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.4% | 6.6% |
St. Elizabeth Medical Center
7.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Alma’s public schools outperform 45% of Wisconsin districts
The public schools Alma’s kids attend trail 55% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma Elementary | PK–8 | 184 | B |
| Alma High | 9–12 | 80 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state testsAll 2 schools →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
5
paid flood claims since 2000
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Landmarks
11 places in Alma on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Alma
3 notable people were born in Alma.
About Alma
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)
- Population
- 716
- Area
- 7.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 673 ft
- ZIP code
- 54610
- Area code
- 608
More about Alma
Still missing for Alma:local news coverageupcoming events