Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Ames, IA

    Is Ames a good place to live?

    Watch Ames

    Ames ranks #18 of 19 Iowa cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (26/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $263,800
    +6.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,040
    per month
    Household income
    $60,102
    median
    Unemployment
    6.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Ames

    The median home value in Ames is $263,800 and median rent is $1,040 a month, against a median household income of $60,102. Homes cost about 4.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Ames crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Iowa the 2025 rate was 238 violent and 1,205 property crimes per 100,000 people — #40 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Ames, IA

    Ames has about 66,112 residents, 6.4% unemployment and 33% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Ames with

    Ames vs Des MoinesAmes vs Cedar RapidsAmes vs DavenportAmes vs Sioux CityAmes vs Iowa CityAmes vs AnkenyAmes vs West Des MoinesAmes vs Waterloo

    More: Where to move in Iowa · Best counties in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report