Population 904 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Alma
Household size in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.93 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Alma are small: just 2.32 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.66 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.2 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.1 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.9 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +10.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Alma skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.7% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Alma: 5.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alma
Renters in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 7.1% of households in Alma rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly half of owners (47.4%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Alma: 14.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Alma are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $533 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $602 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $599 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $648 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$115 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Alma runs $648 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 26.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alma
Bachelor's degrees in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.1% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Alma have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.1%, against 35.6% nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.5% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Alma is a bit above the national rate: 92.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alma
| Period | Alma | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.5 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Alma has been strong: just 0.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alma compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | 2.32 | 46.9 | 5.7% | 7.1% | 14.6% | 1985 | $648 | 23.1% | 92.4% | 0.4% |
| Tonti | 2.57 | 40.8 | 6.8% | 3.6% | 18.1% | 1990 | $640 | 30.2% | 92.0% | 0.1% |
| Brubaker | 2.38 | 45.5 | 3.9% | 8.2% | 3.8% | 1986 | $660 | 15.2% | 95.4% | 1.5% |
| Kinmundy | 2.37 | 39.2 | 9.5% | 12.5% | 7.5% | 1975 | $684 | 13.0% | 90.9% | 5.6% |
| Vernon | 2.32 | 48.0 | 6.5% | 3.0% | 18.0% | 1988 | $637 | 29.2% | 94.9% | 1.4% |
| Salem | 2.33 | 40.2 | 15.5% | 30.5% | 8.7% | 1971 | $824 | 16.6% | 91.8% | 2.6% |
| Patoka | 2.34 | 41.6 | 11.5% | 12.4% | 10.7% | 1975 | $805 | 17.8% | 96.0% | 4.8% |
| Omega | 2.72 | 35.1 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 2.1% | 1994 | $661 | 16.9% | 96.5% | 2.1% |
| St. Peter | 2.40 | 44.5 | 7.6% | 15.8% | 12.0% | 1970 | $943 | 16.8% | 90.5% | 0.6% |
| Selmaville | 2.72 | 42.4 | 7.4% | 20.6% | 8.1% | 1985 | $1,100 | 24.8% | 92.9% | 4.3% |
| Odin | 2.32 | 46.7 | 14.3% | 23.9% | 11.4% | 1977 | $977 | 10.4% | 93.9% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mexican Hat, UT · Organ, NM · Alta Vista, KS · Grenloch, NJ · Arrey, NM · Ashley, ND · Bairdford, PA · Westover, PA · Greenfield, PA · Deal Island, MD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alma. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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