AreaProfile

Compare

Boone vs Ames

Which is the better fit for you?

Boone, IA
60
Area Score
Bottom 48% nationally
Ames, IA
62
Area Score
Top 44% nationally

Ames receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

Signals

Boone
Ames
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs
60 · Top 42%
Growth
27 · Bottom 14%
vs
50 · Top 50%
Climate
57 · Bottom 8%
vs
57 · Bottom 8%
Physical resilience
52 · Bottom 45%
vs
66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs
78 · Bottom 45%
Schools
54 · Top 47%
vs
61 · Top 38%
Access
77 · Bottom 19%
vs
82 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
61 · Top 49%
vs
45 · Bottom 24%

Measured values

MetricBooneAmesSource period
Population12,42467,6692024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$69,222$60,9912024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$36,117$34,3432024 ACS 5-Year
Population density1,359/sq mi2,399/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$173,000$277,4002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$831$1,0232024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate71.6%42.1%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate2.9%3.5%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-1.5%-1.8%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher24.0%65.8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate8.3%25.5%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)1310412 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents1.01.512 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)-93.1%-11.1%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high84°F84°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low11°F11°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation35.9"35.9"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport37 mi34 miNASR current cycle
Average commute21.0 min17.0 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age41.323.32024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools582024-25 school year
Students per teacher13.4414.652024-25 school year
Math proficiency63.9%69.7%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency70.1%71.4%2019-20 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility33.1%35.2%2024-25 school 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

Boone

Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.

Ames

Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Boone
61
Your Score
60
Area Score
Ames
62
Your Score
62
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Boone, IA · Ames, IA · How this is calculated: methodology

Boone vs Ames: Location Comparison | AreaProfile