CensusEasy
CensusEasy
METRO AREA

Ames Metro

Ames, IA · 2 counties · 128,090 residents (2025 est.) · 1,143 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
The short version

Ames is home to 127,134 people. The median age is 30.2, younger than the US median of 38.9. Few US metro areas rank higher on income. 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. 76% were living in the same home a year earlier. The average commute runs 19 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $72,589, 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
Unique to this place

What stands out about Ames

What changed most since 1990

  • White share94.3% → 83.5% (−10.9 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Hispanic share0.8% → 4.7% (+3.9 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts

Among the 23 metro and micro areas based in Iowa

  • 12th in household income$72,589
  • 2nd in share with a bachelor's degree49.3%
  • 4th in home value$248,988
  • 10th in diversity score36.6
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
127,134
+20%since 2000
from 106,205 in 2000
128,090 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
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
Land area
1,143 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
97K105K113K122K130K19902000201020202024Ames
2024127K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.4%(5,605)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(6,137)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.8%(6,068)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1912%(15,224)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2417.2%(21,827)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.6%(16,046)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(13,696)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.9%(11,368)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.9%(12,564)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.8%(11,186)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.1%(5,158)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(2,255)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: 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%
Persons per household
2.29 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
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
3.5
+12%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
58
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
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%
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 Score
37
+71%since 2009
from 21 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
29
−24%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(3,541)
Puerto Rican0.3%(415)
Guatemalan0.3%(330)
Venezuelan0.2%(174)
Cuban0.2%(168)
Salvadoran0.1%(133)
Spaniard0.1%(122)
Argentine0.1%(80)
Colombian0%(53)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese1.5%(1,871)
Asian Indian1.4%(1,358)
Korean1.1%(1,059)
Vietnamese0.3%(368)
Filipino0.3%(358)
Bangladeshi0.3%(314)
Indonesian0.1%(102)
Nepalese0.1%(96)
Pakistani0.1%(92)
Sri Lankan0.1%(84)
Japanese0.1%(77)
Laotian0.1%(67)
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data
Mongolian0.1%(60)
Thai0%(48)
Taiwanese0%(24)
Cambodian0%(22)
Hmong0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(27)
Samoan0%(22)
Tongan0%(9)
Ancestry
German29.9%(37,984)
Irish11.1%(14,117)
English10.8%(13,704)
Norwegian7.9%(10,077)
American3.2%(4,078)
Swedish3%(3,817)
Dutch2.3%(2,933)
Italian2.2%(2,844)
Danish1.7%(2,199)
Scottish1.7%(2,174)
Polish1.4%(1,821)
French1.4%(1,732)
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.2%(1,480)
Welsh0.7%(840)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(787)
British0.6%(777)
Swiss0.4%(528)
Arab0.4%(468)
Russian0.3%(377)
Belgian0.3%(365)
Iranian0.3%(318)
Brazilian0.3%(317)
Canadian0.2%(258)
Greek0.2%(199)
Lebanese0.1%(165)
Romanian0.1%(164)
Austrian0.1%(162)
Nigerian0.1%(155)
Finnish0.1%(123)
Hungarian0.1%(120)
Croatian0.1%(114)
Somali0.1%(98)
Ghanaian0.1%(85)
Turkish0.1%(81)
Portuguese0.1%(78)
Ukrainian0.1%(75)
Lithuanian0.1%(74)
Jordanian0.1%(64)
Bulgarian0%(60)
Latvian0%(56)
Armenian0%(44)
Slovak0%(42)
Ethiopian0%(39)
Slovene0%(38)
Egyptian0%(33)
Guyanese0%(31)
Jamaican0%(31)
Serbian0%(19)
Barbadian0%(13)
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%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
79.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2020
from 80.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
17.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 39.2% 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%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% 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%
−2.3 ptssince 2013
from 6.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2017
from 80.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 94.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
75.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 73.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
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%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married51.7%(29,505)
Married39.9%(22,751)
Widowed2.5%(1,434)
Divorced5.9%(3,396)
Women 15+
Never married41.2%(21,515)
Married43.4%(22,691)
Widowed6.2%(3,215)
Divorced9.2%(4,817)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2013
from 6.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
70.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 69.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 16.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
14.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 13.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
11.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
83.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 83.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
25.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 23.7% 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)24.2%(1,104)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)16.5%(753)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.4%(1,569)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.3%(194)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.3%(104)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 4,555 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Ames, decade by decade

Ames population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199099,438$63,666$138,53832.1%13.4
2000106,205$73,816$186,40738.2%18.4
2010115,848$69,843$211,28541.0%25.7
2020125,252$73,027$222,57846.3%37.0
2024127,134$72,589$248,98849.3%36.6

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

In this metro

Largest cities

AmesCENTRAL68,220Boone12,471Nevada6,974Huxley4,715Story City3,382Madrid2,820Ogden1,975Slater1,617Woodward1,426Gilbert1,389Roland1,344Maxwell844Colo838Cambridge827Zearing504Collins497McCallsburg353Kelley307Sheldahl306Boxholm177Pilot Mound155Luther146Fraser107Beaver49Berkley21
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →