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olegshpyrko / CC BY
Town

Ames

#1 in Best Places to Live in Story County
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Iowa
  • 274 reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A+
  2. Crime & Safety
    B
  3. Housing
    B
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A+
  6. Diversity
    B
  7. Jobs
    B+
  8. Weather
    B-
  9. Cost of Living
    B
  10. Health & Fitness
    B+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B-
  12. Commute
    A+
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Population
64,073

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$176,500
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$835
National
$949
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Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    60%
  • Own
    40%

Ames Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
B
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    78
    283
  • Murder
    2
    6
  • Rape
    45
    41
  • Robbery
    23
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    247
    500
  • Theft
    1,307
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    69
    284

Residents

Diversity
B
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$41,278
National
$55,322
Children
10%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    31%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    33%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    22%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    12%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges
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Ames Reviews

274 reviews
All Categories
I have been living in Ames for the past five years and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here! When I was in high school I thought that I couldn't wait to leave the state of IA and live somewhere "less boring". After a short time of living in Minneapolis for an internship, I knew that I wanted to settle in Iowa. The pace of life here, the lower cost of living, friendly faces everywhere you go, and small towns are some of my favorite things. One of the nicer things about Ames is that it has the amenities of a city but still has the feel of a small town.
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Ames is an amazing town to live in! My family and I just moved here, and the community has been incredibly welcoming. It is full of college students that sometimes make it hard to drive, but they are still very helpful. They have a wide variety of restaurants and places to shop. However, there isn't a mall or very many clothing stores. Ames is a great community, and I would definitely recommend it!
I am a student at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Ames is a fantastic city that suits people of all ages and al life stages, despite its being known as a college town. It is a safe environment for students to learn, parents to raise kids, and the elderly to settle down. It's easy to get yourself involved in community or religious activities as there are select activities to choose from during all seasons of the year. Ames has a wide variety of stores to meet all of your living needs, and if you want to go out and have a good time after Iowa State wins a crazy basketball game, there are so many restaurant choices. I promise you won't go hungry! Ames has gorgeous trails to explore in the summer and fall, and winters aren't so bad since there is an ice skating rink for perfect romantic dates with your significant other. Although I chose to live here for the sake of my education, I wouldn't hesitate to pursue a career and raise a family after graduation in this lovely city!