Ames, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Ames, Iowa Summary

Life in Ames research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Ames over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Ames:

  • The population in Ames is 66,112.

  • The median home value in Ames is $271,994.

  • The median income in Ames is $60,102.

  • The cost of living in Ames is 104 which is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Ames is $1,040.

  • The unemployment rate in Ames is 6.4%.

  • The poverty rate in Ames is 25.9%.

  • The average high in Ames is 58.8° and the average low is 38.1°.

Ames SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
8
Safety
7
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
9.5

Ames, IA Crime Report

Crime in Ames summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Ames. Key points include:

  • There were 1,082 total crimes in Ames in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Ames is 1,653.8 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Ames is 148.3 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Ames is 1,505.5 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Ames is -21.96% below the national average.

1,082
Total Crimes
-21.96%
Below National Average

Crime In Ames Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Ames
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,082 1,653.8 1,540.0 2,119.2
Violent Crime 97 148.3 243.3 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 2.1 5.0
Robbery 5 7.6 18.7 61.0
Aggravated Assault 46 70.3 187.2 256.0
Property Crime 985 1,505.5 1,296.8 1,760.0
Burglary 113 172.7 199.1 229.0
Larceny 814 1,244.2 962.6 1,272.0
Car Theft 58 88.6 135.1 259.0

Ames, IA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Ames summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Ames. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Iowa. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Ames is 104 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Ames is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Ames is $271,994.

  • The median income in Ames is $60,102.

104
Ames's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Ames Comparison Table

Living Expense Ames Iowa National Average
Overall 104 90 100
Services 102 96 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 110 99 100
Housing 112 75 100
Transportation 96 99 100
Utilities 96 94 100

Ames, IA Weather

  • The average high in Ames is 58.8° and the average low is 38.1°.

  • There are 64.4 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 36.4 inches of precipitation each year with 28.5 inches of snow.

StatAmes
Average Annual High58.8
Average Annual Low38.1
Annual Precipitation Days64.4
Average Annual Precipitation36.4
Average Annual Snowfall28.5
58.8°
Average High
64.4
Days of Rain

Ames, IA Photos

Leedz
Source: Wikipedia
Be
Source: Wikipedia | CC-BY-SA-2.5
Power Plant In Ames
Source: Wikipedia User Manop | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Ames in Iowa

Locations Around Ames

Map Of Ames, IA

Best Places Around Ames

1

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2

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3

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Population 18,776

4

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Population 69,893

5

Johnston, IA
Population 24,196

6

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Population 13,610

7

Altoona, IA
Population 20,592

8

Waukee, IA
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9

Grimes, IA
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10

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Population 10,796

Ames Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Ames

The current population in Ames is 66,112. The population has increased 15.3% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 66,112 -0.2%
2022 66,265 1.1%
2021 65,522 -1.3%
2020 66,361 0.5%
2019 66,023 0.1%
2018 65,937 1.4%
2017 65,005 1.5%
2016 64,073 2.0%
2015 62,815 2.5%
2014 61,276 1.8%
2013 60,168 1.6%
2012 59,206 1.8%
2011 58,158 1.4%
2010 57,343 -

Race / Ethnicity in Ames

White
77.6% (51,321)
African American
3.6% (2,400)
American Indian
0.1% (88)
Asian
9.4% (6,213)
Hawaiian
0.1% (64)
Other
0.2% (100)
Two Or More
4.1% (2,712)
Hispanic
4.9% (3,214)

Ames is:

  • 77.6% White with 51,321 White residents.

  • 3.6% African American with 2,400 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 88 American Indian residents.

  • 9.4% Asian with 6,213 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 64 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 100 Other residents.

  • 4.1% Two Or More with 2,712 Two Or More residents.

  • 4.9% Hispanic with 3,214 Hispanic residents.

Race Ames IA USA
White 77.6% 83.1% 58.2%
African American 3.6% 3.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 9.4% 2.4% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.2% 0.5%
Two Or More 4.1% 3.2% 3.9%
Hispanic 4.9% 7.0% 19.0%

Gender in Ames

Female
47.1% (31,120)
Male
52.9% (34,991)
  • Ames is 47.1% female with 31,120 female residents.

  • Ames is 52.9% male with 34,991 male residents.

Gender Ames IA USA
Female 47.1% 49.9% 50.5%
Male 52.9% 50.1% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Ames for adults over 25

  • -1.0% of adults in Ames completed < 9th grade.

  • 2.0% of adults in Ames completed 9-12th grade.

  • 12.0% of adults in Ames completed high school / ged.

  • 15.0% of adults in Ames completed some college.

  • 8.0% of adults in Ames completed associate's degree.

  • 33.0% of adults in Ames completed bachelor's degree.

  • 17.0% of adults in Ames completed master's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in Ames completed professional degree.

  • 10.0% of adults in Ames completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
-1.0% (-661)
9-12th Grade
2.0% (1,322)
High School / GED
12.0% (7,933)
Some College
15.0% (9,916)
Associate's Degree
8.0% (5,288)
Bachelor's Degree
33.0% (21,816)
Master's Degree
17.0% (11,239)
Professional Degree
4.0% (2,644)
Doctorate Degree
10.0% (6,611)
Education Ames IA USA
< 9th Grade -1.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 12.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 15.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 8.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 33.0% 21.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 17.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 4.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 10.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Ames, Iowa

  • 8.4% of households in Ames earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.0% of households in Ames earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 8.9% of households in Ames earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 7.6% of households in Ames earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 12.5% of households in Ames earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 18.0% of households in Ames earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.9% of households in Ames earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 12.6% of households in Ames earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.5% of households in Ames earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 7.5% of households in Ames earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
8.4% (553,942)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.0% (333,093)
$15,000 to $24,999
8.9% (588,499)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.6% (501,978)
$35,000 to $49,999
12.5% (828,576)
$50,000 to $74,999
18.0% (1,193,107)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.9% (855,337)
$100,000 to $149,999
12.6% (835,331)
$150,000 to $199,999
6.5% (427,409)
$200,000 or more
7.5% (493,923)
Income Ames IA USA
Less than $10,000 8.4% 4.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.0% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 8.9% 7.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.6% 7.3% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.5% 11.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.0% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.9% 14.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 12.6% 18.4% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.5% 8.4% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 7.5% 8.0% 12.6%

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