Population 8,987 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Iowa State University
Household size in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.72 | 2.36 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.88 | 2.21 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.00 | 2.18 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.13 | 2.31 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.59 | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Iowa State University are small: just 2.13 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.72 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7 | 29.3 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 20.5 | 30.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 20.3 | 30.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 20.3 | 31.3 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +2.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Iowa State University is young: half of its residents are under 20.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults in their twenties. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 20.7, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 4.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 4.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.0% of households in Iowa State University, well below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Ames. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Iowa State University
Renters in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.6% | 55.1% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 86.6% | 56.6% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 81.4% | 57.0% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 82.3% | 55.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +0.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Iowa State University: 82.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Just over half of owners (51.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.6 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 4.9% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 7.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 10.4% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +4.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Iowa State University as nationally: 9.1%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1980 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1981 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1985 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1987 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Iowa State University are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of Ames. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $709 | $774 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $728 | $802 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $856 | $949 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $986 | $1,022 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$277 | +$248 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Iowa State University pays $986 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $277 a month from 2006–10, a 39% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Iowa State University
Bachelor's degrees in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.5% | 56.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.0% | 59.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.8% | 56.3% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.2% | 66.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +28.7 pts | +9.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Iowa State University is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 28.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.2% | 96.3% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.8% | 98.1% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.0% | 96.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.0% | 96.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +0.5 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Iowa State University: 99.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.7 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Iowa State University
| Period | Iowa State University | Ames | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 5.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 7.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 5.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Iowa State University than nationally: unemployment was 6.2%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 8.1 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Iowa State University compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | 2.13 | 20.3 | 4.0% | 82.3% | 9.1% | 1987 | $986 | 82.2% | 99.0% | 6.2% |
| Crawford | 3.42 | 20.6 | 3.1% | 81.4% | 33.8% | 1993 | $924 | 51.6% | 87.5% | 10.8% |
| College Creek | 2.09 | 27.2 | 1.8% | 73.6% | 11.2% | 2004 | $1,062 | 51.7% | 98.5% | 8.2% |
| Meredith | 2.57 | 36.0 | 10.7% | 44.9% | 11.5% | 1973 | $1,185 | 31.7% | 88.4% | 3.3% |
| Lower Beaver | 2.37 | 36.4 | 18.0% | 26.3% | 7.5% | 1962 | $1,460 | 34.0% | 87.0% | 2.2% |
| Oak Park | 2.24 | 39.9 | 24.5% | 20.5% | 9.4% | 1943 | $1,207 | 24.1% | 85.7% | 1.6% |
| Highland Park | 2.56 | 35.5 | 23.9% | 34.0% | 11.7% | 1950 | $1,054 | 11.6% | 78.9% | 6.5% |
| Douglas Acres | 2.64 | 36.8 | 17.1% | 38.7% | 6.1% | 1971 | $1,179 | 17.5% | 85.9% | 6.3% |
| Beaverdale | 1.99 | 42.0 | 6.5% | 24.1% | 7.7% | 1944 | $1,253 | 48.7% | 95.1% | 6.4% |
| Merle Hay | 2.08 | 40.8 | 9.7% | 25.5% | 6.0% | 1955 | $1,228 | 35.3% | 93.7% | 4.4% |
| Union Park | 2.77 | 33.9 | 16.5% | 20.2% | 7.1% | 1946 | $1,320 | 15.9% | 80.2% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bitter Lake, Seattle, WA · Polish Village, Parma, OH · Robertson, Oakland, CT · Walker, Maywood, CA · Windsor Hills, Austin, TX · Glencove, Vallejo, CA · Windsor Park, Austin, TX · Forest Grove, Worcester, MA · Downtown East, Las Vegas, NV · Woodstock, Portland, OR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Iowa State University. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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