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.
Alma, Michigan is a smaller city with a population of 9,187 residents. If we look at the most recent Census, Alma is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. With an average age of 32 years old, Alma could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. Alma is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 43%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Alma is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 19 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area 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 search. 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. Finding the best places to live in Alma and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes cost of living, health & safety, education and other important metrics.
The livability score in Alma is 70/100 and the city is ranked in the 74th percentile of all cities across America. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Alma has higher than average rankings for the following: housing (A+). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Alma. The following was graded with a concerning score: amenities (F) and employment (F).
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Alma can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Alma real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Alma. The median home price for Alma homes is $152,650, which is 35.3% lower than the Michigan average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Alma, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 12.5% 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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