Ames, IA vs Boone, IA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricAmes, IABoone, IA
Population67,66912,424
Median Household Income$60,991$69,222
Median Rent$1,023/mo$831/mo
Median Home Value$277,400$173,000
Cost of Living (US = 100)8989
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income48.9%39.8%
Poverty Rate25.5%8.3%
Unemployment Rate2.8%3.1% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k10388
Property Crime Rate /100k1,267690
Median AQI——
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs82°F82°F
Winter Lows14°F13°F
Snowfall27 in/yr36 in/yr
Avg Commute15.6 min19.2 min
Hospitals11
Avg Hospital Rating4.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher14.913.7
College Degree Rate65.8%24%
Foreign-Born %11.6%1.5%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+2.7%+0.2%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.