All Countries
Ames, IA
Full City Profile · Iowa · Story County County
3.5
/5.0
B+
Good
66,112
Population
2,344/sq mi density
$60,102
Median Income
$33,314 per capita
$263,800
Home Value
$269,519 Zillow
$1,040
Median Rent
31.7% income on rent
50°F
Avg Temperature
260 sunny days/yr
198
Violent Crime/100K
1,716 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$60,102 median income, 4.1% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.2 / 5.0
$263,800 home value, $1,040/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
198 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
63.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$60,102
20% below
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$33,314
15% below
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
14% above
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
5.2%
58% below
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Ames vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Ames’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$60,102
80%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$33,314
85%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$86,259
120%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,204
84%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,204
16% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
16 min
42% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
11.3%
26% below US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
65.3%
11% below US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
5.8%
16% above US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$7,790M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
65.3%
Public Transit
5.8%
Work From Home
11.3%
Other
17.6%
Average commute time
16 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
3,066
Restaurants
268
Healthcare
229
Retail
275
Manufacturing
76
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$86,259
20% above US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$5,724
64% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $60,102 |
| Per Capita Income | $33,314 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $86,259 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,204 |
| County GDP | $7,790M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% |
| Poverty Rate | 5.2% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.478 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87.8 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 16 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 65.3% |
| Public Transit | 5.8% |
| Work From Home | 11.3% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 3,066 |
| Restaurants | 268 |
| Healthcare | 229 |
| Retail | 275 |
| Manufacturing | 76 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $86,259 |
| Avg Property Tax | $5,724 |