The Town FilesAlma, Wisconsin
City in Buffalo County · population 716 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,900
- Household income
- $58,368
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 55.9
Alma is a city of 716 people in Buffalo County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $177,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 79% of Wisconsin towns.
How Alma ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alma is worth $177,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $58,368, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alma | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $725 | $951 |
| Median household income | $58,368 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.7% | — |
Who lives in Alma
| People | Alma | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Alma
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alma since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 3, 1973.
Severe weather in Buffalo County since 1996
Buffalo County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buffalo County
Buffalo County had 3,616 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,517 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Alma itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Alma
2 public schools with 245 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma Elementary | PK-8 | 176 | 13.5 |
| Alma High | 9-12 | 69 | 11.5 |
Towns near Alma
- Greenfield, MN3.1 mi · 1,308 people · home $261,500
- Wabasha, MN6.6 mi · 2,559 people · home $262,300
- Nelson, WI7.5 mi · 574 people · home $301,900
- Buffalo City, WI8.5 mi · 1,007 people · home $182,100
- Waumandee, WI11.0 mi · 508 people · home $231,500
- Pepin, WI13.4 mi · 731 people · home $209,400
- Milton, WI13.7 mi · 541 people · home $256,400
- Pepin, WI14.5 mi · 741 people · home $264,200
Alma questions
Is Alma, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alma scores better for retirees than 97% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 64%. 29.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.9).
How much does a house cost in Alma?
The median owner-occupied home in Alma is valued at $177,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,368, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Alma?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.4 inches of snow.
Does Alma get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)