Area data
Ames, IA — ZIP 50012
Population: 1,913 (Census ACS)
Home values & appreciation
- House Price Index
- 379.0 (+3.7% YoY)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Low)
- 87.8 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 13.7¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $10.60/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards
- drought, tornado, winterWeather, hail, iceStorm
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 48.3°F
- Average high
- 59.0°F
- Average low
- 37.3°F
- Annual precipitation
- 40.5 in
Amenities
- Nearest airport
- Ames Municipal Airport (AMW) (3 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (34 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 13
- Avg hospital rating
- 2.7 / 5
- EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
- 18
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)
Housing stock
- Households with broadband internet
- 100.0%
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 33,301
- Average weekly wage
- $1,122
- Top industries (by employment)
- Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Professional Services
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 141
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Aug 2026. See all data sources →