Relocation profile · Federal data
Ames, IA
LiveAbility 65/100 places Ames #15 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 88.8
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,026
- 2BR rent / mo
- $64,722
- Median salary
- 65
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Ames ranks #15 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (65/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #15
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 3,241,488
- metro-area population
- 238
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,326
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (25/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Ames ranks #15 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 88.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,026/mo, median salary $64,722; LiveAbility Score 65/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: LiveAbility 65/100 places Ames #15 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 88.8 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,026/mo.
LiveAbility 65/100 puts Ames in the top third (#15 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Ames area is 48,070.
Ames vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
65 Top 4% higher than 96% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Ames housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Ames MSA; housing RPP 69.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,026/mo.
Ames wages and employment
Ames posts 48,070 total employment with median salary $64,722 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,220 |
| Cashiers | $29,230 |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,460 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,240 |
| Registered Nurses | $77,160 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Ames area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Ames area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Ames's composite Life Score is 66.2/100 (C+), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Ames ranks #15 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 65/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Ames - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
92 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
82 /100
- Safety
Safety
73 /100
- Job market
Job market
65 /100
- Schools
Schools
56 /100
- Climate 28
Climate
28 /100
- Low hazard 25
Low hazard
25 /100
What this shows Ames's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 25/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Ames to
Metros near Ames on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Ames on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Ames cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Ames wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Ames?
Ames runs a $64,722 median salary at a 88.8 cost index, ranking #15 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Ames's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Ames head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Ames
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.