At a Glance
Median Income
$44,236
$22,112 per capita
Home Value
$153,800
Zillow: $220,320
Median Rent
$1,008/mo
49.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
3.7%
88.0% high school+
Unemployment
9.6%
26.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
46.9%
21.3% smoking rate
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?
C+
2.6 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Ames residents earn a median household income of $44,236 , which is 41% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $22,112. The unemployment rate stands at 9.6% (167% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 26.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,298 business establishments, including 121 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Ames is $153,800 , 45% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $220,320. Median rent is $1,008/month, with 49.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1997.
Education
3.7% of adults in Ames hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(89% below the national average).
88.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Ames has an average annual temperature of 69°F (21°C).
Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 84°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 62.8 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,085
Median Age39.6 yrs
Density329/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born1.2%
Veterans9.2%
Economy
D
Median Income$44,236
Per Capita$22,112
Unemployment9.6%
Poverty26.2%
County GDP$3,305M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,071
Housing
A+
Home Value$153,800
Rent$1,008
Ownership67.2%
Zillow$220,320
Housing Units417
Rent Burden49.5%
Health
Obesity46.9%
Diabetes18.5%
Smoking21.3%
Heart Disease7.0%
Premature Death11,242/100K
Climate
Avg Temp69°F
Rain62.8 in/yr
Elevation70 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+3.7%
High School+88.0%
Graduate+1.3%
School Score4.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 81% / D 19%
Commute25 min
Broadband69.7%
Internet Speed76 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Ames was built in 1997.
The nearest airport is George Bush Intcntl/Houston (36 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.452 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
19.7% of the population has a disability.
There are 121 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 28 fatal vehicle crashes.
182 declared natural disasters on record.