Ames, Iowa Income Statistics
Ames Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Ames Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ames | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,440 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,855 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.9% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ames is about 21% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Ames (6.4%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Ames earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ames, Iowa grew by 73.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,440 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ames
| Metric | Ames | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.612 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,033 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,255 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.8% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Ames, it is 0.612, higher than Iowa's 0.510, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Ames, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $587,230 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ames, Iowa has widened from about 24% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2021, and was narrowest at 11% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,923 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Ames widened by 2.0 points while Iowa's narrowed by 3.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Ames | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.6% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 2,232 people are unemployed in Ames, Iowa.
The average commute time in Ames is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ames, Iowa has fallen from 7.1% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.7% in 2018.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ames, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Iowa, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ames, Iowa.
How Wealthy Is Ames, Iowa?
Ames has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $59,440, about 21% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
Are incomes growing in Ames, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ames, Iowa rose 74%, from $34,241 to $59,440. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +74% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Ames in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ames, Iowa was $58,843, up 5% from $55,978 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Ames in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ames, Iowa was $49,679. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $59,440.
Is it hard to find a job in Ames, Iowa?
Unemployment in Ames, Iowa is 6.2%, well above the Iowa rate of 3.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ames, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Ames is 0.612. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Ames, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ames, Iowa has widened from about 24% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2021, and was narrowest at 11% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,923 since 2009.
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