Ames, IA: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Ames () is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines in central Iowa. It is the home of Iowa State University (ISU). According to the 2020 census, Ames had a population of 66,427, making it the state's ninth-most populous city. Iowa State University was home to 30,177 students as of fall 2023, which make up approximately one half of the city's population. A United States Department of Energy national laboratory, Ames National Laboratory, is located on the ISU campus. Ames also hosts United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sites: the largest federal animal disease center in the United States, the USDA Agricultural Research …

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Ames ranks

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#1Most educated in IA #3Lowest obesity in IA #7Closest to a top hospital in IA All IA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code50010, 50011, 50012

Area code515

Living in Ames

Housing in Ames

$304K▲ 2.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Ames home is worth about $304,000, up 2.8% in a year, 27% above the Iowa typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market15

Sale-to-list99.1%

Sold in May61

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Ames

B⁻

Safety Grade B-

Ames reports less crime per resident than 50% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Ames 1

Iowa 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Ames 12.6

Iowa 12

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Ames

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 77% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 96% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Iowa

14better than IA·10worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 8 are too close to call.

Conditions 10▲ 2 close Habits 2▲ 1▼ 1 close Care 1▲ 4▼ 2 close Mind 1▲ 2▼ 2 close Everyday needs 3▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

15.1%Fewer adults with arthritisIA 27% · better 3.7%Fewer adults with heart diseaseIA 6.6% · better 11.1%More adults without reliable transportationIA 6.8% · worse

Care nearby

Mary Greeley Medical CenterAmes · 0.7 mi · ER

Primary Health Care - Story CountyAmes · 2.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Ames · CMS · HRSAHealth in Ames →

Schools in Ames

All Ames schools →

B

School Grade B

The public schools Ames’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 56% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#60Best public schoolsof 139 in IA

DistrictAmes Comm School DistrictSchools9

Fellows Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 489 students Edwards Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 436 students Sawyer Elementary School CElementary · Grades K–5 · 371 students Meeker Elementary School CElementary · Grades K–5 · 361 students Mitchell Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 314 students St. Cecilia Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–6 · 148 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from AmesWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Ames.Meet them →