What are the schools like in Alma, KS?

Alma is served primarily by Wabaunsee. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

What is the median household income in Alma?

The median household income in Alma, KS is $50,313 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

What is the weather like in Alma, KS?

Alma has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.5 inches.

Alma, KS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alma, KS affordable or expensive?

Alma's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alma is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,300 and the median rent is $950 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alma, KS?

Alma has a violent crime rate of 303.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1486.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alma, KS a Good Place to Live?

Alma is a small town of 796 in Kansas, with a median household income of $50,313 and a 1.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Alma stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Alma is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alma city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 85.9

Alma's overall cost of living index is 85.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alma costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alma, KS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$950	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,313	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Alma's violent crime rate is 303.0 per 100,000 residents — 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

303.0 /100k

Property Crime

1486.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alma is served primarily by Wabaunsee. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alma, KS	National Avg
School District	Wabaunsee	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alma sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 89.8°F in July, with 35.8 inches of annual precipitation and 16.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alma, KS
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	89.8°F
Annual Precipitation	35.8"
Annual Snowfall	16.5"

Demographics

Metric	Alma, KS	National Avg
Population	796	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.8%	22.2%
65 and over	20.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

McFarland, KS 4 mi Paxico, KS 7 mi Newbury, KS 8 mi Wabaunsee, KS 9 mi Zeandale, KS 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Alma

Alma, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

66401

Alma vs Other Cities

Alma, KS vs McFarland, KS Alma, KS vs Paxico, KS Alma, KS vs Newbury, KS Alma, KS vs Wabaunsee, KS Alma, KS vs Zeandale, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alma, KS affordable or expensive?

Alma's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alma roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,300 and median rent is $950/month.

What is the crime rate in Alma, KS?

Alma's violent crime rate is 303.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1486.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alma?

Public schools in Alma are operated by Wabaunsee. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 24.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alma, KS a good place to live?

Alma, KS has a population of 796, a median household income of $50,313, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alma?

Alma averages 39.3°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.8 inches with about 16.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alma?

Alma, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66401.

What is the population of Alma?

The population of Alma, Kansas is 796 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alma?

Key numbers for living in Alma: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $110,300, median household income $50,313, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alma side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.