At a Glance
Median Income
$108,125
$46,960 per capita
Home Value
$128,800
Zillow: $214,529
Violent Crime
130/100K
3,389/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
38.2%
97.1% high school+
Unemployment
0.0%
0.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.2%
18.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F
261 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+
3.8 / 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 $108,125 , which is 44% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $46,960. The unemployment rate stands at 0.0% (100% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 0.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,248 business establishments, including 104 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Ames is $128,800 , 54% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $214,529. The cost of living index is 107.9 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Safety & Crime
Ames reports 130 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 66% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,389/100K.
Education
38.2% of adults in Ames hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(13% above the national average).
97.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Ames has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C).
Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 261 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.
Data Overview
People
Population136
Median Age41.3 yrs
Density1,046/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans5.5%
Economy
A+
Median Income$108,125
Per Capita$46,960
Unemployment0.0%
Poverty0.0%
County GDP$2,632M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,034
Housing
A+
Home Value$128,800
Rent
Ownership100.0%
Zillow$214,529
Housing Units79
Rent Burden31.2%
Crime
F
Violent130/100K
Property3,389/100K
Health
Obesity40.2%
Diabetes10.2%
Smoking18.9%
Heart Disease6.9%
Premature Death9,219/100K
Climate
Avg Temp45°F
Sunny Days261/yr
AQI36 (Good)
Elevation708 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+38.2%
High School+97.1%
Graduate+7.7%
School Score4.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 64% / D 36%
Commute40 min
Broadband58.0%
Internet Speed141 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries6
Did You Know?
The median home in Ames was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Albert S Nader Regional (32 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.435 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
5.4% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 141 Mbps.
There are 104 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.
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