West Des Moines, IA vs Ames, IA

West Des Moines, IA

Population: 69,893

Ames, IA

Population: 66,112

Side-by-side comparison of West Des Moines, IA and Ames, IA

Demographics

Population

70KWest Des Moines

66KAmes

6% diff

Median Age

37West Des Moines

23Ames

57% diff

Pop. Density

1,472West Des Moines

2,344Ames

59% diff

Area (sq mi)

39West Des Moines

25Ames

56% diff

Male

50.1%

West Des Moines

52.9%

Ames

6% diff

Female

49.9%

West Des Moines

47.1%

Ames

6% diff

Income & Economy

Median Income

$85KWest Des Moines

$60KAmes

41% diff

Per Capita Income

$56KWest Des Moines

$33KAmes

67% diff

Poverty Rate

5.6%

West Des Moines

5.2%

Ames

8% diff

Unemployment

1.8%

West Des Moines

4.1%

Ames

2.3x diff

Cost of Living

88West Des Moines

88Ames

Avg Weekly Wage

$1,395West Des Moines

$1,204Ames

16% diff

Housing

Home Value

$286KWest Des Moines

$264KAmes

9% diff

Median Rent

$1,194West Des Moines

$1,040Ames

15% diff

Homeownership

57.4%

West Des Moines

42.9%

Ames

34% diff

Zillow Value

$317KWest Des Moines

$270KAmes

17% diff

Zillow Rent

$1,342West Des Moines

$1,084Ames

24% diff

Rent Burden

25.5%

West Des Moines

31.7%

Ames

24% diff

Crime & Safety

Violent Crime

186West Des Moines

198Ames

6% diff

Property Crime

2,505West Des Moines

1,716Ames

46% diff

Murder Rate

0West Des Moines

1Ames

Weather & Climate

Avg Temp

51°FWest Des Moines

50°FAmes

3% diff

Jan Temp

22°FWest Des Moines

20°FAmes

9% diff

Jul Temp

76°FWest Des Moines

74°FAmes

3% diff

Rainfall

36.6"West Des Moines

35.9"Ames

2% diff

Snowfall

36.5"West Des Moines

32.7"Ames

12% diff

Sunny Days

275West Des Moines

260Ames

6% diff

Education

Bachelor's+

54.6%

West Des Moines

63.5%

Ames

16% diff

High School+

96.3%

West Des Moines

97.5%

Ames

1% diff

Graduate+

18.4%

West Des Moines

30.7%

Ames

67% diff

Commute & Transportation

Commute Time

17.8 minWest Des Moines

16.0 minAmes

11% diff

Drive Alone

71.9%

West Des Moines

65.3%

Ames

10% diff

Public Transit

0.3%

West Des Moines

5.8%

Ames

20x diff

Work from Home

17.3%

West Des Moines

11.3%

Ames

53% diff

Health

Obesity

33.7%

West Des Moines

34.8%

Ames

3% diff

Smoking

10.7%

West Des Moines

13.4%

Ames

25% diff

Uninsured

5.6%

West Des Moines

6.4%

Ames

14% diff

Diabetes

8.5%

West Des Moines

9.6%

Ames

13% diff

Heart Disease

4.6%

West Des Moines

5.2%

Ames

13% diff

Depression

20.5%

West Des Moines

20.8%

Ames

1% diff

The Verdict

24 West Des Moines

14 Ames

West Des Moines leads in 24 of 38 categories

Compare Different Cities