Ames, IA Economy


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The city of Ames, IA is an attractive place to live, offering affordable housing and a favorable cost of living. The average 2-bedroom rent in Ames is $1,030 which is significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. Further more, grocery costs in Ames are 97 on the Cost Index versus 100 in the US making it a great option for budget conscious families.
Ames has grown into a thriving business hub; popular local companies include Barilla Pasta, Ball Corporation, Workiva, and Danfoss Power Solutions. The city also features a growing tech scene with NestEgg Technologies and IMS Gear having their headquarters here as well as several other software development firms operating nearby.

Ames has an unemployment rate of 2.7%. The US average is 6.0%.

Ames has seen the job market increase by 2.3% over the last year. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 34.0%, which is higher than the US average of 33.5%.

Tax Rates for Ames
- The Sales Tax Rate for Ames is 7.0%. The US average is 7.3%.
- The Income Tax Rate for Ames is 9.0%. The US average is 4.6%.
- Tax Rates can have a big impact when Comparing Cost of Living.

Income and Salaries for Ames
- The average income of a Ames resident is $24,082 a year. The US average is $28,555 a year.
- The Median household income of a Ames resident is $54,339 a year. The US average is $69,021 a year.

Income by Population Percent

  EconomyAmes, IowaUnited States
  2.76
  -5.8%-6.2%
  34.0%33.5%
  7.0%6.2%
  7.4%4.6%
  $29,347$37,638
  $54,339$69,021
  $96,791$85,028
  Population by Occupation
  1.9%1.2%
  0.2%0.5%
  3.1%6.8%
  7.7%10.0%
  1.9%2.5%
  9.4%11.0%
  2.5%4.8%
  0.4%0.8%
  1.9%1.9%
  3.0%4.7%
  1.8%1.9%
  5.9%7.6%
  0.2%0.1%
  2.0%4.2%
  29.5%9.3%
  11.2%14.0%
  2.3%2.1%
  9.7%7.0%
  2.0%4.8%
  3.4%4.7%
Reviews for Ames
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Over 12 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 12 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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