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CITY · 2010 ACS

Ames

Iowa · 58,965 residents · 28.204 sq mi
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The short version

Ames has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $40,321. Population has grown 16% since 2000. 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $168,200. At a median age of 23.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 23.8
US median: 37.2
More educated
60% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
58,965
+16%since 2000
from 50,731 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,091 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 1,799 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
23.8
+1%since 2000
from 23.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
45K51K57K64K70K1990201020202024Ames
202468K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,321
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,042 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,579
+25%since 2000
from $18,881 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
26.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
26.1%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information10.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade7.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.5%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$168,200
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $125,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$721
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $600 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
29.5%
−16.6 ptssince 2000
from 46.1% in 2000
57.4% rent
Vacancy rate
4.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
14.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.2
+20%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ames on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.3%(43,762)
Black2.6%(1,323)
Hispanic / Latino2%(1,002)
Asian7.7%(3,902)
Other0%
Diversity Score28.3%(14,358)
2010
White, non-Hispanic82.5%(48,639)
Black3.3%(1,941)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(2,027)
Asian8.8%(5,162)
Other1.4%(838)
Diversity Score37.6%(22,184)
Diversity Score
38
+33%since 2000
from 28 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
60.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 58.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
96.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 95.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
27.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 28.1% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.9 min
+49%since 2000
from 10.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
67.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 68.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
8.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
10.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
2.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
22.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
48.4%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 70.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Female
46.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Foreign born
11.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
5.0%
−47.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Ames

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Pop 74,134
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Wilmington
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Places similar to Ames
Head to head

Compare Ames to nearby cities

AMES VS
Boone
Income$69,222+72%
Home value$173,000+3%
Population12,471−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AMES VS
Ankeny
Income$108,198+168%
Home value$331,000+97%
Population77,833+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AMES VS
Johnston
Income$106,551+164%
Home value$369,100+119%
Population25,065−63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AMES VS
Bondurant
Income$135,674+236%
Home value$318,800+90%
Population9,647−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ames, Iowa?

Ames, Iowa has about 58,965 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ames, Iowa?

The typical household in Ames, Iowa earns about $40,321 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 $168,200, and the typical rent is about $721 a month.

How educated are people in Ames, Iowa?

About 60.5% 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 26.1% 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 11,772 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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