City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Ames, TX

Ames's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

1,085
Residents
$44,236
Median income
$153,800
Median home
$1,149
Median rent (state)
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State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Ames.

Place dossier plate

Sheet TX-AMES-TX · Ames, TX 1,085 pop · income 12th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 1,085
  • INC-LOW $44,236
  • COL-PAR 97.1
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 12th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Wise
  • HOME-LOW $153,800
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Wise, VA ( $2 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Ames

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Ames on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Ames on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 1,085.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $44,236. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Ames - the verdict

Nationally, Ames sits in the 12th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

12th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
40th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ames, TX

1,085 people live in Ames, Texas - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $44,236 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.2%. Ames's housing stock carries a median value of $153,800, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. Educational attainment runs 3.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,149 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 49.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Ames's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to population change to comparison shortlist to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Ames, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, local building permits, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Ames?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 87.9%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. The profile is strongly car-oriented, so a relocation comparison should put trip distance, vehicle access, and household fuel costs ahead of a citywide commute average. The same-state peer links offer a more relevant benchmark than a national label.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 2

Is Ames growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +325 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +34.0% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

3. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Ames?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Texas, the closest population matches are San Felipe (1,085 residents, $60,078 income); Celeste (1,084 residents, $56,458 income); Marion (1,088 residents, $63,214 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Sacred Heart University, CT (1,085 residents); La Harpe, IL (1,085 residents); Eddyville, IA (1,085 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

4. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Ames?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.5 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 26.2%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

1,085 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$44,236 /yr

Low income · poverty 26.2% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

City profile score · Ames, TX

18/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living C-
97.1 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Household income F
$44,236

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
26.2%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Bachelor's+ share F
3.7%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Ames profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Household income, Poverty rate, Bachelor's+ share. Cost of livingHousehold incomePoverty rateBachelor's+ share 18 F
Ames profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 53/100 (C-) · 97.1 index
  • Household income: 12/100 (F) · $44,236
  • Poverty rate: 5/100 (F) · 26.2%
  • Bachelor's+ share: 0/100 (F) · 3.7%

How does Ames compare to other US cities?

Here's how Ames stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 40% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Ames against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Ames near the bottom of Texas's cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Ames ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ames only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,275 of 1,520
16th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 1,663
0th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#786 of 1,505
48th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#168 of 1,663
90th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,532 of 1,663
8th percentile in Texas
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

12thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

12th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ames's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$153,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ames $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Ames's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.5×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#8,877 of 15,516
More affordable than 43% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#7,172 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.5×, Ames sits in the moderate band: national rank #8,877 of 15,516 and #7,172 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$44,236 Ames, TX median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Ames, TX Ames, TX's median household income ($44,236) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Ames, TX-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Ames, TX median $44,236/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ames, TX median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Ames, TX.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 3.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,085
Median Income
$44,236
Median Home Value
$153,800
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
26.2%
Labor force participation
54.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
3.7%

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
900 residents1,000 residents1,100 residents1,200 residents1,300 residents1,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 957 residents 1,282 residents ▲ +34.0%
Ames's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 957 residents
2021 1,017 residents
2022 1,072 residents
2023 1,146 residents
2024 1,220 residents
2025 1,282 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.9%
Carpool
9.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
1.9%

Based on 473 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Texas statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $223

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Texas at $223 (electricity about $130 , water and sewer about $48 ).

These are Texas statewide averages, not a meter reading for Ames. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Texas's BEA cost-of-living index is 97.1 (Near Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Ames is $1,149/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Texas statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 49.0 / 100 (Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Texas statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Ames sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Ames compares to similar-size Texas cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Ames (this city) 1,085 $44,236
San Felipe 1,085 $60,078
Celeste 1,084 $56,458
Marion 1,088 $63,214
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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