The Town FilesAmes, Iowa
City in Story County · population 66,427 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,400
- Household income
- $60,991
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 23.3
Ames is a city of 66,427 people in Story County, Iowa. The median home is worth $277,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 100% of Iowa towns, better transit than 100% of Iowa towns.
How Ames ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ames is worth $277,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $60,991, which is more affordable than 1% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,023 a month. 42.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ames | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,023 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,991 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 42.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Ames
| People | Ames | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Ames
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ames since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 13, 1976 about 6.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 151 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Story County since 1996
Story County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Story County
Story County had 47,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,615 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Ames itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Ames
8 public schools with 4,701 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | 9-12 | 1,427 | 17.4 |
| Ames Middle School | 6-8 | 1,032 | 15.2 |
| Fellows Elementary School | K-5 | 518 | 13.6 |
| Edwards Elementary School | K-5 | 439 | 13.3 |
| Sawyer Elementary School | K-5 | 375 | 12.5 |
| Meeker Elementary School | K-5 | 365 | 11.8 |
| Mitchell Elementary School | K-5 | 296 | 12.9 |
| Northwood Pre-School | PK-K | 249 | 24.9 |
Towns near Ames
- Nevada, IA7.8 mi · 6,925 people · home $182,400
- Huxley, IA9.1 mi · 4,244 people · home $297,100
- Story City, IA11.2 mi · 3,352 people · home $215,600
- Boone, IA13.0 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
- Madrid, IA14.6 mi · 2,802 people · home $185,600
- Polk City, IA17.7 mi · 5,543 people · home $414,800
- Ankeny, IA20.4 mi · 67,887 people · home $331,000
- Johnston, IA23.7 mi · 24,064 people · home $369,100
Ames questions
Is Ames, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ames scores better for retirees than 8% of Iowa towns and quieter than 0%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.3).
How much does a house cost in Ames?
The median owner-occupied home in Ames is valued at $277,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,991, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,023 a month.
What is the weather like in Ames?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Ames get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ames since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 13, 1976. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)