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Ames, IA
City in Story County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 50010, 50012, 50013, 50014.
Population
67,669
Land area
28.2sq mi
People per sq mi
2,399
ZIP codes
4
Ames and its ZIP codes
Ames at a glance
- Ames is about 42 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 8th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $60,991 a year, 19% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $277,400 (33% above Iowa) and median rent is $1,023 a month.
Local data for Ames, IA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools9
- Colleges2
- Libraries1
- Banks23
- Post Offices3
- Parks39
- Grocery Stores27
- Restaurants218
- Affordable Housing3
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers1
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers1
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment6
- Private Schools1
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places17
Housing and community stats
Ames, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,991
Poverty rate
25.5%
Median home value
$277,400
Median rent
$1,023/mo
Homeownership
42.1%
Bachelor's or higher
65.8%
Median age
23.3
Average commute
15.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (17,796), Irish Americans (7,318), Norwegian Americans (3,586).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Story County. PPP loans are for Ames.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Sep 2026, +0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$65,198
47,004 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$56,392
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$780M
FY 2026, $7,915 per person
PPP loans
$95.4M
1,022 loans, 11,529 jobs reported
How people get to work
Ames, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone62.5%
- Carpooled7.3%
- Public transit5.5%
- Walked10.2%
- Bicycle1.7%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home12.1%
Average one-way commute: 15.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ames, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
1,208
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
95
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 11°F
35.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone17 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ames, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.1%
U.S. 33.3% -2.2 pts
Diabetes
6.4%
U.S. 12.1% -5.7 pts
Smoking
11.3%
U.S. 12.8% -1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.5%
U.S. 11.1% -3.6 pts
ZIP codes in Ames
4 in or overlapping Ames. Population shown
Cities near Ames
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| KelleyCity | 5.9 mi | 0.7 |
| GilbertCity | 5.9 mi | 1.1 |
| NevadaCity | 7.5 mi | 5.9 |
| HuxleyCity | 8.8 mi | 3.4 |
| CambridgeCity | 9.2 mi | 1.3 |
| SlaterCity | 11 mi | 1.9 |
| RolandCity | 11 mi | 1.2 |
| Story CityCity | 11 mi | 3 |
| LutherCity | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| SheldahlCity | 12 mi | 0.8 |
| MaxwellCity | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| BooneCity | 14 mi | 9.1 |
| ColoCity | 15 mi | 1.1 |
| McCallsburgCity | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| RandallCity | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| AllemanCity | 15 mi | 2.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ames, IA in?
- Ames is in Story County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Ames, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Ames include 50010, 50012, 50013, 50014.
- What is the population of Ames, IA?
- About 67,669 people live in Ames, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ames?
- Nearby places include Kelley (5.9 mi), Gilbert (5.9 mi), Nevada (7.5 mi), Huxley (8.8 mi), Cambridge (9.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023