2026 Compare Cities Overview:
Carrboro, NC vs Ames, IA

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Highlights
Are people in Ames older or younger than people in Carrboro?
- The Median Age in Ames is 9.2 years younger than in Carrboro.

Are housing costs cheaper in Ames or Carrboro?
- Ames housing costs are 39.9% less expensive than Carrboro housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Ames or Carrboro?
- The average commute for residents of Ames is 5.9 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Carrboro.

Things to do in Carrboro?
Carrboro is an unincorporated town located in Orange County, North Carolina just outside Chapel Hill and close to Durham's Research Triangle Park (RTP). It’s home to a population of nearly 22 thousand where residents enjoy neighborhoods that are within walking distance to shops & restaurants while having easy access to football games held at nearby University Of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus . Furthermore , Carrboro offers several recreational activities such as storytelling events , bike rides around scenic routes plus open air concerts most notably at Cat’s Cradle concert hall .

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.

 Carrboro, NCAmes, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock65,522329,725,481
 Median Income$76,599  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock23.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$397,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time22.38  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Carrboro    4 Reviews

Over 14 years ago

Carrboro is basically a bedroom community, where people who work at or study at UNC over in Chapel Hill lay down for the night. All day they work at UNC only to pay the  More

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Carrboro has a strong civic life with a lot of local participation and visionary politics towards making a more sustainable and just community. The center of town has  More

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Over 16 years ago

climate is good, 4 seasons, winter is short with just a little  More

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Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 14 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 14 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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