United States › Iowa › Ames CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Ames Iowa · 50,731 residents · 28.2 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Ames is a city of 50,731 people in Iowa. 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 24% nationally. The median age is 23.6, younger than the US median of 35.2. Owners hold 46% of the housing stock. 20.4% of people here live below the federal poverty line. The average commute runs 11 minutes.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 23.6
US median: 35.2
More educated
59% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 23.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K 51K 57K 64K 70K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ames Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $36,042
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,636 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $11,347 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 24.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$125,300
+32%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $72,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$600
+13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $404 in 1990
US average: $602
from 44.0% in 1990
53.9% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 89.9%(42,450)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(601)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 86.3%(43,762)
Hispanic / Latino 2%(1,002)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data from 54.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 95.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 26.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.6 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 59.7%(13,938)
Women 15+
Never married 48.5%(10,277)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 5.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 10.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 7.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 85.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 33.5%(609)
Gulf War (1990s) 9.2%(167)
Share of the 1,819 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Ames, Iowa? Ames, Iowa has about 50,731 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Ames, Iowa? The typical household in Ames, Iowa earns about $36,042 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Ames, Iowa expensive? In Ames, Iowa, the median home is worth about $125,300, and the typical rent is about $600 a month.
How educated are people in Ames, Iowa? About 58.6% of adults age 25 and over in Ames, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ames, Iowa? About 20.4% of people in Ames, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ames, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Ames, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,538 residents, a change of about 7 percent over that period.
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