Ames and Glens Falls receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Ames
Glens Falls
Opportunity
67 · Top 27%
vs55 · Top 49%
Growth
42 · Bottom 36%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Climate
57 · Bottom 16%
vs56 · Bottom 13%
Physical resilience
64 · Top 38%
vs77 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 45%
vs99 · Top 31%
Access
79 · Top 46%
vs72 · Bottom 42%
Economic stability
65 · Top 33%
vs49 · Bottom 48%
Measured values
| Metric | Ames | Glens Falls | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 127,134 | 126,039 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,127 | $75,836 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,347 | $42,589 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 111/sq mi | 74/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $246,300 | $232,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,000 | $1,077 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.9% | 74.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.9% | 29.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 10.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 249 | 385 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -41.8% | 19.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 10°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.9" | 38.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 25.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 29.9 | 46.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ames
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.
Glens Falls
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Ames
67
Your Score
66
Area Score
Glens Falls
65
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Ames, IA Metro Area · Glens Falls, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology