Ames, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-12-15

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 66,265.

  • The median home value in Ames is $242,576.

  • The median income in Ames is $57,428.

  • The cost of living in Ames is 98 which is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Ames is $1,011.

  • The unemployment rate in Ames is 7.1%.

  • The poverty rate in Ames is 26.8%.

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

Search Homes For Sale In Ames, IA

Ames SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
8
Safety
7
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
9.5
Search Homes For Sale In Ames, IA

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 1,003 total crimes in Ames in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Ames is 1,500.3 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Ames is 218.4 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Ames is 1,281.9 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Ames is -35.45% below the national average.

1,003
Total Crimes
-35.45%
Below National Average

Crime In Ames Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Ames
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,003 1,500.3 2,001.7 2,324.2
Violent Crime 146 218.4 303.5 369.8
Murder 2 3.0 3.5 6.3
Robbery 11 16.5 29.8 66.1
Aggravated Assault 75 112.2 229.4 268.2
Property Crime 857 1,281.9 1,698.2 1,954.4
Burglary 79 118.2 371.1 269.8
Larceny 726 1,086.0 1,130.1 1,401.9
Car Theft 52 77.8 197.1 282.7

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 98 with 100 being average.

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

  • The median home value in Ames is $242,576.

  • The median income in Ames is $57,428.

98
Ames's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Ames Comparison Table

Living Expense Ames Iowa National Average
Overall 98 89 100
Services 100 95 100
Groceries 108 98 100
Health 104 99 100
Housing 93 73 100
Transportation 96 98 100
Utilities 93 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 User | PD
Be
Source: Wikipedia User | 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

Urbandale, IA
Population 45,591

2

Ankeny, IA
Population 68,392

3

Clive, IA
Population 18,576

4

West Des Moines, IA
Population 68,744

5

Johnston, IA
Population 23,856

6

Norwalk, IA
Population 13,057

7

Altoona, IA
Population 20,017

8

Waukee, IA
Population 25,045

9

Grimes, IA
Population 15,402

10

Pleasant Hill, IA
Population 10,456

Ames Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Ames

The current population in Ames is 66,265. The population has increased 15.6% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2022 66,265 0.5%
2021 65,937 1.4%
2020 65,005 1.5%
2019 64,073 2.0%
2018 62,815 2.5%
2017 61,276 1.8%
2016 60,168 1.6%
2015 59,206 1.8%
2014 58,158 1.4%
2013 57,343 -

Race / Ethnicity in Ames

White
78.3% (51,902)
African American
3.2% (2,108)
American Indian
0.1% (81)
Asian
10.1% (6,678)
Hawaiian
0.0% (22)
Other
0.2% (121)
Two Or More
4.2% (2,774)
Hispanic
3.9% (2,579)

Ames is:

  • 78.3% White with 51,902 White residents.

  • 3.2% African American with 2,108 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 81 American Indian residents.

  • 10.1% Asian with 6,678 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 22 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 121 Other residents.

  • 4.2% Two Or More with 2,774 Two Or More residents.

  • 3.9% Hispanic with 2,579 Hispanic residents.

Race Ames IA USA
White 78.3% 83.8% 58.9%
African American 3.2% 3.7% 12.1%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.6%
Asian 10.1% 2.5% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.2% 0.4%
Two Or More 4.2% 2.9% 3.5%
Hispanic 3.9% 6.5% 18.7%

Gender in Ames

Female
46.4% (30,738)
Male
53.6% (35,527)
  • Ames is 46.4% female with 30,738 female residents.

  • Ames is 53.6% male with 35,527 male residents.

Gender Ames IA USA
Female 46.4% 49.9% 50.4%
Male 53.6% 50.1% 49.6%

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.

  • 32.0% of adults in Ames completed bachelor's degree.

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

  • 3.0% of adults in Ames completed professional degree.

  • 10.0% of adults in Ames completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
1.0% (662)
9-12th Grade
2.0% (1,325)
High School / GED
12.0% (7,951)
Some College
15.0% (9,939)
Associate's Degree
8.0% (5,301)
Bachelor's Degree
32.0% (21,204)
Master's Degree
17.0% (11,265)
Professional Degree
3.0% (1,987)
Doctorate Degree
10.0% (6,626)
Education Ames IA USA
< 9th Grade 1.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 2.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 12.0% 31.0% 26.0%
Some College 15.0% 20.0% 20.0%
Associate's Degree 8.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 32.0% 20.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 17.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 3.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 10.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Ames, Iowa

  • 9.9% of households in Ames earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.3% of households in Ames earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 9.3% of households in Ames earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 7.9% of households in Ames earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 11.3% of households in Ames earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 19.1% of households in Ames earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.5% of households in Ames earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 12.5% of households in Ames earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.2% of households in Ames earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 6.0% of households in Ames earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
9.9% (653,951)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.3% (353,993)
$15,000 to $24,999
9.3% (614,941)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.9% (520,578)
$35,000 to $49,999
11.3% (748,578)
$50,000 to $74,999
19.1% (1,266,520)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.5% (829,498)
$100,000 to $149,999
12.5% (825,281)
$150,000 to $199,999
6.2% (412,772)
$200,000 or more
6.0% (400,383)
Income Ames IA USA
Less than $10,000 9.9% 4.2% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.3% 3.6% 3.8%
$15,000 to $24,999 9.3% 7.4% 7.0%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.9% 7.8% 7.4%
$35,000 to $49,999 11.3% 11.9% 10.7%
$50,000 to $74,999 19.1% 17.9% 16.1%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.5% 14.3% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 12.5% 18.2% 17.1%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.2% 7.6% 8.8%
$200,000 or more 6.0% 7.1% 11.4%

Articles About Iowa

Enjoy The Snack?