Ames, IA
Census place 1901855 · pop 67,669
Home of Iowa State University, the nation's first land-grant institution to admit women and men equally.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
74.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
42.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
25.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$60,991 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.39% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1515 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+2.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$277,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
154 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
76/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
21.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
31.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
65.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,074/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
16 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Ames: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Ames, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Ames scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is broadband access. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Ames, IA?
- Ames reports 154 violent crimes per 100k and 1515 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Ames, IA expensive to live in?
- Ames has a median home value of $277,400 and typical rent around $1,074/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Ames, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is broadband access (74.2%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Ames, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Home of Iowa State University, the nation's first land-grant institution to admit women and men equally.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.