Ames

Iowa

City page

Comparison Matrix

City	Ames View Map
Route	Add at least two cities
General Info
Population	66,265
Center Elevation	942 ft(287 m)
Housing & Wealth
Median Home	$266,556
Median Rent	$1,194
Median Income	$57,428
Rent Burden	25%
Climate & Risks
Days with 5+ Hours of Sun	301 days/yr
Avg. High	60°F
Avg. Low	42°F
Comfort Score	46/100Mixed
Temp Swing	55°F
Annual Precipitation	34"(86 cm)
Annual Snowfall	25"(64 cm)
Air Quality	Typical: 392024 modeled avg · 1 days > 100
Infrastructure & Lifestyle
Safety Score	77 / 100
School Rating	6.8/10
Flood Risk (FEMA)	minimalMinimal Risk
Central Tract Wildfire Risk	minimalMinimal
Internet Access	Fiber: 80%Cable: 92%
Demographics
Median Age	23 years
College Educated	63%
Remote Workers	10%
Nature Access
Local Nature & Reserves	Finding...
Scouting & Local Help
Housing and local helpA practical next step once someone starts picturing the move.	Featured Local Partner AD Realtor Realtor spot available For an agent, brokerage, or relocation team that can answer housing questions in Ames. One featured slot per city Book a scouting trip

Frequently Checked Pairings

City pairings people keep checking.

See the city pairings people come back to most, then open the full side-by-side comparison when one matches your shortlist.

View All Comparisons

Compare

390 logged

Chicago, Illinois & New York

Demand-backed pageOpen

Compare

323 logged

Boston, Massachusetts & Chicago, Illinois

Demand-backed pageOpen

Compare

274 logged

Los Angeles, California & New York

Demand-backed pageOpen

Compare

252 logged

Colorado Springs, Colorado & Fort Collins, Colorado

Demand-backed pageOpen

Compare

244 logged

Barcelona, Spain & Madrid, Spain

Demand-backed pageOpen

Compare

236 logged

Bogotá, Bogotá D.C., Colombia & Mexico City, Mexico

Demand-backed pageOpen

Latest Editorial

New from WhyThere.

Essays and data-led lenses on climate, cost, geography, and the shape of daily life.

View All Editorial

WhyThere Signals

The Unexpected City Beside Portland: Philadelphia

A checked sample of WhyThere comparisons puts Philadelphia beside Portland more often than Seattle. The interesting part is not a winner, but the different versions of city life those pairings let us test.

Read Comparison

International Decisions

Sydney vs. Melbourne: Follow the Wind, Not the Weather Stereotype

Melbourne can change air masses in an afternoon. Sydney can change character across its suburbs. Cold fronts and coastal exposure explain more than the usual weather rivalry.

Read Comparison

International Decisions

Madrid vs. Valencia: The Same July Average Hides Two Climates

Both average 25.6 C in July in AEMET's 1981-2010 city-station normals. Hotter Madrid days, warmer Valencia nights, and a delayed coastal summer explain why winter belongs in the comparison.

Read Comparison

Climate Routes

Phoenix to Prescott: How Much Heat Can You Leave Behind?

Prescott cuts the July temperature baseline sharply without going as cold as Flagstaff. Matched airport normals reveal the summer gain, the winter trade and the water question elevation cannot solve.

Read Comparison

Collections