| | Ames, IA | West Des Moines, IA | United States |
| Unemployment Rate | Unlock | 3.3% | 6.0% |
| Recent Job Growth | Unlock | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Future Job Growth | 34.0% | Unlock | 33.5% |
| Sales Taxes | 7.0% | Unlock | 6.2% |
| Income Taxes | Unlock | 7.4% | 4.6% |
| Income per Cap. | $29,347 | Unlock | $37,638 |
| Household Income | Unlock | $76,564 | $69,021 |
| Family Median Income | $96,791 | Unlock | $85,028 |
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| Est. Households By Income | | | |
| | Ames, IA | West Des Moines, IA | United States |
| Income Less Than 15K | Unlock | 4.7% | 9.4% |
| Income between 15K and 20K | 5.6% | Unlock | 3.8% |
| Income between 20K and 30K | Unlock | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| Income between 30K and 40K | 7.8% | Unlock | 8.0% |
| Income between 40K and 50K | Unlock | 7.5% | 7.6% |
| Income between 50K and 60K | 8.0% | Unlock | 7.2% |
| Income between 60K and 75K | Unlock | 11.2% | 9.6% |
| Income between 75K and 100K | 10.1% | Unlock | 12.8% |
| Income between 100K and 150K | Unlock | 17.6% | 16.3% |
| Income between 150K and 200K | 5.3% | Unlock | 7.8% |
| Income greater than 200K | Unlock | 10.8% | 9.5% |
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| Population By Occupation | | | |
| | Ames, IA | West Des Moines, IA | United States |
| Management, business, finance | 11.4% | Unlock | 16.4% |
| Engineering, computers, science | Unlock | 12.2% | 6.5% |
| Community, social services | 1.3% | Unlock | 1.8% |
| Legal | Unlock | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Education, library | 16.4% | Unlock | 6.2% |
| Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment | Unlock | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Healthcare practitioners and technology | 4.1% | Unlock | 6.2% |
| Healthcare support | Unlock | 1.5% | 3.3% |
| Firefighters, law enforcement | 1.2% | Unlock | 2.1% |
| Food preparation, serving | Unlock | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Building maintenance | 3.0% | Unlock | 3.6% |
| Personal care | Unlock | 3.3% | 2.6% |
| Sales, office, administrative support | 17.7% | Unlock | 20.9% |
| Farming, fishing, forestry | Unlock | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair | 4.3% | Unlock | 8.1% |
| Production, transportation, material moving | Unlock | 7.9% | 13.1% |