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US City Data

Ames vs West Des Moines

Side-by-side comparison

How does Ames, IA compare to West Des Moines, IA? Ames has a population of 66,112 with a median household income of $60,102, while West Des Moines has 69,893 residents and a median income of $84,925. Below you'll find a detailed breakdown of demographics, economy, and housing for both cities.

Population & Demographics
MetricAmes, IAWest Des Moines, IADifference
Population66,11269,893-5.4%
Median Age23.336.5-36.2%
Foreign Born %10.9%11.3%-3.5%
Economy
MetricAmesWest Des MoinesDifference
Median Income$60,102$84,925-29.2%
Unemployment6.4%2.5%+156.0%
Poverty Rate25.9%7.3%+254.8%
Bachelor's+63.5%54.6%+16.3%
Housing
MetricAmesWest Des MoinesDifference
Home Value$263,800$286,300-7.9%
Median Rent$1040/mo$1194/mo-12.9%
Housing Units27,70633,605-17.6%

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Ames, IA ProfileWest Des Moines, IA ProfileCost of Living in IowaMore ComparisonsCity Rankings