Alma, MI

4 Apartments for Rent

Alma: The city where students can get a college scholarship for playing the bagpipes

Alma, MI, is a city of 9,383 residents located about an hour north of Lansing. Its population swells during the school year, when students return to their studies at Alma College, a four-year institution located just west of the community's downtown area. The college's nickname is the "Scots," which is why the school offers scholarships to students who play the traditional Highland instrument. While the college has a major influence on the city, don't write Alma off as "just another college town." The community has been around for a while -- founded in 1853, and incorporated as a city in 1905 -- and developed a number of amenities alongside a quaint, small-town feel that is music to the ears of prospective residents.

Renting in Alma

The college does a lot for this small town. For example, it hosts a number of cultural events and provides a consumer base for local businesses. The fact that Alma is somewhat of a "college town" also affects the housing market, too. Students take up space in a significant number of rental houses in Alma, so anyone considering a move here should be aware that they might face competition when looking for apartments to rent throughout the city.

If you're looking for a home or duplex to rent, Alma's your place -- the city's student population has created a cottage industry for landlords with real estate for lease. Your best bet in terms of landing a place is to look during the late spring and summer months, when there is the highest number of vacancies.

Alma Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods surrounding the college offer lots of options, but houses for rent are available in other areas, too. Alma also has a few apartment complexes, like Pine River Apartments and Countryside Apartments, that offer rental housing. While the small city doesn't have many distinct neighborhoods, you can find rentals in the two main business districts as well as the surrounding area. Each area offers an array of apartments and houses for rent in all shapes and sizes.

Northtown: This is your basic strip mall area, with a variety of national restaurant and retail chains, such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Walmart, and the like. It also contains an NCG movie theater.

Downtown: This district contains more specialized, locally owned shops and restaurants. Probably the most famous of these is Pizza Sam, an Alma tradition with dated decor and a menu said to contain the most amazing pizzas its customers will ever eat. If pizza isn't your thing, you can check out places like Braveheart's Pub, The Main Caf, or the Wooden Spoon Bakery, all of which are also located in the downtown area.

Living in Alma

Although you'll want a vehicle to travel to the city's farthest reaches, Alma is, for the most part, a walkable community. The downtown area is minutes from the college and from many of the city's residential neighborhoods. Alma is also the beginning (or the end, depending on how you look at it) of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, a 41-mile paved walking and bicycling path through Michigan's central region. Mass transit within the city is available in the form of a dial-a-ride service from DART Transit. Definitely break out your own car to check out the scene in Mount Pleasant, located 20 minutes to the north. And though Alma has a Walmart, a JC Penney, and other retail establishments, to do heavy duty shopping, you'll either need to head to Lansing, or Grand Rapids or Saginaw -- two cities between which Alma sits almost directly in the center.

Alma offers other amenities, too, including a public library, golf courses, a bowling alley, and 102 acres of parkland. In addition, every spring Alma hosts the Highland Festival, a celebration with plenty of kilts, caber tossing, and, of course, those bagpipes.