Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
Located in the state of Michigan, Alma is a small city with a population of 8,918 people. According to the most recent Census, 93% of Alma residents are White, 4% Black and 1% Asian. Alma could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 32 years old is below the nation’s average. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Alma, only 43% of the population is married. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Alma will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 19 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Alma could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Michigan if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, commute, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Alma and in the areas around Alma is a much easier task.
Alma has a livability score of 68/100 and is ranked #327 in Michigan and #7,770 in the USA. Based on the scores for each individual category, Alma has been rewarded with high marks for housing (B). Alma does not score well for the following: amenities (F) and employment (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Alma has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Alma meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Alma. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Alma are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Alma come in at $85,100, which is 33.4% lower than the Michigan average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Alma, the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 4% lower than the Michigan average.
| Statistic | Alma | Michigan | National |
| Average one way commute | 19min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 73.6% | 82.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.6% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.7% | 1.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.2% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 6.9% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 8.8% | 3.7% | 4.6% |
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