2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Folsom, CA vs Ames, IA

Change Cities
Highlights
Are people in Ames older or younger than people in Folsom?
- The Median Age in Ames is 16.9 years younger than in Folsom.

Are housing costs cheaper in Ames or Folsom?
- Ames housing costs are 66.9% less expensive than Folsom housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Ames or Folsom?
- The average commute for residents of Ames is 9.3 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Folsom.

Things to do in Folsom?
Folsom, California is a beautiful city located in Sacramento County, the ideal spot for outdoor activities due to its landscape filled with parks and trails such as Folsom Lake State Recreation Area or Beal's Point.

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.

 Folsom, CAAmes, IAUnited States
 Population  Unlock65,522329,725,481
 Median Income$128,421  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock23.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$723,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock2.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time25.7  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Folsom    15 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

Folsom has the worst air quality of any city in the Sacramento region per Sac Metro Air Quality Management. Do not move there if u have any respiratory issues, or u like  More

   |    Reply

Over 12 years ago

Folsom is a great little town of about 70,000 people. A half hour from Sacramento, an hour and a half from Tahoe, it sits in a good location at about 320 feet altitude.  More

   |    Reply

I think Folsom is ideal in many ways but it shares Sacramento's lousy air quality (1.5 out of 100 per this site). Sometimes it's worse than Sacramento when a smog  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Folsom

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Ames


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.