');
US City Data

West Des Moines vs Ames

Side-by-side comparison

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

Population & Demographics
MetricWest Des Moines, IAAmes, IADifference
Population69,89366,112+5.7%
Median Age36.523.3+56.7%
Foreign Born %11.3%10.9%+3.7%
Economy
MetricWest Des MoinesAmesDifference
Median Income$84,925$60,102+41.3%
Unemployment2.5%6.4%-60.9%
Poverty Rate7.3%25.9%-71.8%
Bachelor's+54.6%63.5%-14.0%
Housing
MetricWest Des MoinesAmesDifference
Home Value$286,300$263,800+8.5%
Median Rent$1194/mo$1040/mo+14.8%
Housing Units33,60527,706+21.3%

Learn More

West Des Moines, IA ProfileAmes, IA ProfileCost of Living in IowaMore ComparisonsCity Rankings