At a Glance
Median Income
$60,102
$33,314 per capita
Home Value
$263,800
Zillow: $269,519
Median Rent
$1,040/mo
31.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
198/100K
1,716/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
63.5%
97.5% high school+
Unemployment
4.1%
5.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.8%
13.4% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F
260 sunny days/yr
How Ames Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Ames's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Ames a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Ames residents earn a median household income of $60,102 , which is 20% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,314. The unemployment rate stands at 4.1% (14% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,066 business establishments, including 268 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Ames is $263,800 , 6% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $269,519. Median rent is $1,040/month, with 31.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1991.
Safety & Crime
Ames reports 198 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 48% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,716/100K. The murder rate is 1.5/100K.
Education
63.5% of adults in Ames hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(88% above the national average).
97.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Ames has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 35.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population66,112
Median Age23.3 yrs
Density2,344/mi²
Male / Female53% / 47%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.4%
Economy
B+
Median Income$60,102
Per Capita$33,314
Unemployment4.1%
Poverty5.2%
County GDP$7,790M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,204
Housing
A
Home Value$263,800
Rent$1,040
Ownership42.9%
Zillow$269,519
Housing Units27,356
Rent Burden31.7%
Crime
F
Violent198/100K
Property1,716/100K
Murder1.5/100K
Assault101/100K
Burglary202/100K
Health
Obesity34.8%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking13.4%
Heart Disease5.2%
Premature Death4,947/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Sunny Days260/yr
Rain35.9 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation932 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+63.5%
High School+97.5%
Graduate+30.7%
School Score6.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 44% / D 54%
Commute16 min
Broadband72.3%
Internet Speed102 Mbps
EV Stations21
Libraries13
Did You Know?
Ames was founded in 1864.
The median home in Ames was built in 1991.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (37 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.478 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
8.3% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 102 Mbps.
There are 268 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.
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