Ames, IA
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around Ames to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in Ames, Iowa

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. Here's a snapshot of Ames based on the most recently available data.

67,669 Population
$274,367 Median home value
$60,991 Median income
101 Cost of living +1% vs US
$1,023 Median rent
5.8% Unemployment
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Ames SnackAbility

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

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
Ames
US

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
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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

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 101 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 $274,367.

  • The median income in Ames is $60,991.

101
Ames's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average
Ames
US

Cost Of Living In Ames Comparison Table

Living Expense Ames Iowa National Average
Overall 101 90 100
Services 100 99 100
Groceries 93 95 100
Health 114 75 100
Housing 95 97 100
Transportation 93 93 100
Utilities 93 94 100
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Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 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

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

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 & Articles For Ames

Locations Around Ames

Map Of Ames, IA

Best Places Around Ames

1

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3

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4

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5

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6

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7

Altoona, IA
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8

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9

Grimes, IA
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10

Pleasant Hill, IA
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Ames Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Ames

The current population in Ames is 67,669. The population has increased 18.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 67,669 2.4%
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 76.8% (51,976)
African American 3.8% (2,579)
American Indian 0.1% (62)
Asian 9.3% (6,310)
Hawaiian 0.1% (72)
Other 0.3% (207)
Two Or More 4.4% (2,987)
Hispanic 5.1% (3,476)
See the full breakdown

Ames is:

  • 76.8% White with 51,976 White residents.

  • 3.8% African American with 2,579 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 62 American Indian residents.

  • 9.3% Asian with 6,310 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 72 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.3% Other with 207 Other residents.

  • 4.4% Two Or More with 2,987 Two Or More residents.

  • 5.1% Hispanic with 3,476 Hispanic residents.

Race Ames IA USA
White 76.8% 82.3% 57.4%
African American 3.8% 3.8% 11.9%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 9.3% 2.5% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.2% 0.2%
Other 0.3% 0.3% 0.6%
Two Or More 4.4% 3.5% 4.3%
Hispanic 5.1% 7.3% 19.3%

Gender in Ames

Female 47.0% (31,836)
Male 53.0% (35,833)
See the full breakdown
  • Ames is 47.0% female with 31,836 female residents.

  • Ames is 53.0% male with 35,833 male residents.

Gender Ames IA USA
Female 47.0% 49.8% 50.5%
Male 53.0% 50.2% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Ames for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 0.0% (0)
9-12th Grade 2.0% (1,353)
High School / GED 12.0% (8,120)
Some College 13.0% (8,796)
Associate's Degree 7.0% (4,736)
Bachelor's Degree 34.0% (23,007)
Master's Degree 17.0% (11,503)
Professional Degree 4.0% (2,706)
Doctorate Degree 11.0% (7,443)
See the full breakdown
  • 0.0% 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.

  • 13.0% of adults in Ames completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in Ames completed associate's degree.

  • 34.0% 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.

  • 11.0% of adults in Ames completed doctorate degree.

Education Ames IA USA
< 9th Grade 0.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 12.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 13.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 34.0% 21.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 17.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 4.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 11.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Ames, Iowa

Less than $10,000 6.5% (438,267)
$10,000 to $14,999 5.0% (340,116)
$15,000 to $24,999 8.4% (565,810)
$25,000 to $34,999 8.7% (591,267)
$35,000 to $49,999 13.0% (879,683)
$50,000 to $74,999 18.2% (1,231,085)
$75,000 to $99,999 12.1% (821,685)
$100,000 to $149,999 13.1% (884,145)
$150,000 to $199,999 6.9% (467,660)
$200,000 or more 8.1% (547,178)
See the full breakdown
  • 6.5% of households in Ames earn Less than $10,000.

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

  • 8.4% of households in Ames earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 8.7% of households in Ames earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.0% of households in Ames earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 18.2% of households in Ames earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.1% of households in Ames earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 13.1% of households in Ames earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.9% of households in Ames earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 8.1% of households in Ames earn $200,000 or more.

Income Ames IA USA
Less than $10,000 6.5% 4.0% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.0% 3.2% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 8.4% 6.7% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 8.7% 7.2% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.0% 11.3% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.2% 17.5% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.1% 14.0% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 13.1% 18.7% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.9% 8.8% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 8.1% 8.6% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)