2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Ames, IA vs Rock Island, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Rock Island older or younger than people in Ames?
- The Median Age in Rock Island is 12.0 years older than in Ames.

Are housing costs cheaper in Rock Island or Ames?
- Rock Island housing costs are 53.1% less expensive than Ames housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Rock Island or Ames?
- The average commute for residents of Rock Island is 1.4 minutes longer than it is for residents of Ames.

Things to do in Ames?
Ames, Iowa is a lively city located in the heart of central Iowa. This bustling city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the picturesque Reiman Gardens or the historic Octagon Center for the Arts. Residents here also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities at Hills Memorial Park or Brookside Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Ames their home.

Things to do in Rock Island?
Rock Island, Illinois lies within Rock Island County giving tourists leisure areas such as Sunderbruch Park combined with employment opportunities at Trinity Muscatine Campus along with entertainment opportunities at Rialto Square Theatre Waipahu

 Ames, IARock Island, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock37,519329,725,481
 Median Income$54,339  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock35.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$239,100  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time16.44  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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Reviews for Rock Island    3 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

Pros: 1. Extremely low cost of living 2. Affordable place to live Cons: 1. High crime rate 2. Poor school system 3. Not much to  More

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Rock Island has a varied background and contains many cultural and historic areas. It has been improving its school system and is in a metropolitan area which contains  More

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Over 19 years ago

I just moved here for work one year ago. Moving from San Francisco here was a shock but ultimatelly good. The community is a typical midwestern small town. It is part  More

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