Census ACS · #341 MSA
Ames Metro Area
The Ames, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has 125,261 residents. The median household income is $71,090 and the median home value is $231,600.
125,261
Population
110
People / sq mi
$71,090
Median Income
$231,600
Median Home Value
The Ames CBSA covers 1,143 sq mi of land at 109.6 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 85.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.4% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.9% |
Economy & Income
$71,090
Median Household Income
$38,602
Per Capita Income
4.6%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Ames metro's price level is 88.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 11.2% lower the US average. The local median income of $71,090 has the buying power of $80,029 in average-priced US metros.
88.8
Price Level (US = 100)
$80,029
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$71,090
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$231,600
Median Home Value
$1,002
Median Rent
61.5%
Homeownership
Education
96.7%
High School+
46.8%
Bachelor's+
Commute
3.2%
Drive Alone
10.5%
Work From Home
19.1 min
Avg Commute
27.1%
Foreign Born
Ames spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Iowa
Largest counties in Iowa
Part of Iowa
Other metros
Metro areas in Iowa
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ames, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 125,261 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #341 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Ames metro area is $71,090, with a per capita income of $38,602.
The Ames, Ia CBSA spans the state of Iowa.
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More from Iowa
Data for the Ames, Ia CBSA (11180) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Age is the most distinctive thing about Ames: a median age of 30.0, younger than the national median. With 125,261 residents, Ames is a metro area in IA.
Household earnings are middling, with a median of $71,090 — below the US median of $78,538. Poverty is among the lowest of comparable US metro areas, at 4.6% — below the national 12.4%. The typical home is valued at $231,600, with typical rent around $1,002.
Degree attainment is near the top of the range for US metro areas: 46.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s, above the 35.0% national rate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.