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METRO AREA

Ames Metro

Ames, IA · 2 counties · 128,090 residents (2025 est.) · 1,143.005 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#21Youngest by median ageof 92530.2#30Most educatedof 92549.3%
The short version

Ames has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,589. Population has grown 20% since 2000. 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $248,988. At a median age of 30.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
49% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
127,134
+20%since 2000
from 106,205 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
111 / sq mi
+20%since 2000
from 93 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.2
+2%since 2000
from 29.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:128,090 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
97K105K113K122K130K1990201020202024Ames
2024127K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,589
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,521 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,347
+97%since 2000
from $19,948 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.7%
+19.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.454
+3%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$248,988
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $102,328 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$982
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $542 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 62.6% in 2000
39.3% rent
Vacancy rate
7.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.3%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+36%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ames on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(97,950)
Black1.4%(1,520)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(1,456)
Asian3.9%(4,133)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.1%(17,100)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(106,132)
Black2.4%(3,018)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(5,967)
Asian5.3%(6,694)
Other4.2%(5,323)
Diversity Score37%(47,009)
Segregation Score28.9%(36,771)
Diversity Score
37
+130%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
−24%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
49.3%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 38.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.9%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 92.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
20.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.8 min
+53%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.4%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.0%
−22.5 ptssince 2009
from 67.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
47.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
7.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.4%
−46.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 7.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−89.6 ptssince 2013
from 93.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2017
from 80.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 91.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

AmesCENTRAL68,220
What's inside

2 component counties

Story CountyCENTRAL101,291Boone County26,799
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Ames

Augusta
Pop 129,067
Harrisonburg
Pop 140,155
Glens Falls
Pop 124,373
Flagstaff
Pop 144,368
Places similar to Ames
Head to head

Compare Ames side by side

AMES VS
Augusta
Income$69,077−5%
Home value$238,200−4%
Population129,067+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AMES VS
Harrisonburg
Income$73,776+2%
Home value$307,785+24%
Population140,155+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AMES VS
Glens Falls
Income$76,067+5%
Home value$233,211−6%
Population124,373−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
AMES VS
Flagstaff
Income$72,966+1%
Home value$448,000+80%
Population144,368+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ames, IA?

Ames, IA has about 127,134 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ames, IA?

The typical household in Ames, IA earns about $72,589 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ames, IA expensive?

In Ames, IA, the median home is worth about $248,988, and the typical rent is about $982 a month.

How educated are people in Ames, IA?

About 49.3% of adults age 25 and over in Ames, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ames, IA?

About 15.7% of people in Ames, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ames, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Ames, IA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 27,696 residents, a change of about 28 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →