The Town FilesAlma, Nebraska
City in Harlan County · population 1,043 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,800
- Household income
- $75,703
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.5
Alma is a city of 1,043 people in Harlan County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $163,800, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Nebraska towns, quieter than 93% of Nebraska towns.
How Alma ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alma is worth $163,800, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $75,703, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $641 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alma | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,800 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $641 | $818 |
| Median household income | $75,703 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Alma
| People | Alma | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Alma
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 24.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alma since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 8, 1993 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 31, 1980.
Severe weather in Harlan County since 1996
Harlan County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4387: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Harlan County
Harlan County had 853 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,165 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Alma itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Alma
2 public schools with 382 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALMA ELEMENTARY AT ALMA | PK-6 | 199 | 10.0 |
| ALMA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 183 | 12.2 |
Towns near Alma
- Oxford, NE17.5 mi · 718 people · home $92,900
- Franklin, NE21.9 mi · 941 people · home $89,200
- Holdrege, NE23.2 mi · 5,515 people · home $198,900
- Phillipsburg, KS24.5 mi · 2,337 people · home $98,300
- Beaver City, NE24.6 mi · 537 people · home $78,900
- Axtell, NE28.8 mi · 732 people · home $205,100
Alma questions
Is Alma, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alma scores better for retirees than 88% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 93%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Alma?
The median owner-occupied home in Alma is valued at $163,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,703, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $641 a month.
What is the weather like in Alma?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.7 inches of precipitation a year and 27.0 inches of snow.
Does Alma get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 8, 1993. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)