Ames receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Pittsfield
Ames
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 46%
vs67 · Top 27%
Growth
29 · Bottom 18%
vs42 · Bottom 36%
Climate
59 · Bottom 21%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 34%
vs64 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
89 · Bottom 34%
vs96 · Top 45%
Access
86 · Top 31%
vs79 · Top 46%
Economic stability
51 · Top 50%
vs65 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Pittsfield | Ames | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 129,430 | 127,134 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,013 | $73,127 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,365 | $39,347 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 140/sq mi | 111/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $305,400 | $246,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,097 | $1,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.9% | 60.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.0% | 47.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 15.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 137 | 249 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.7% | -41.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 14°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.2" | 35.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 30 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 20.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.3 | 29.9 | 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
Pittsfield
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, hurricane.
Ames
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Pittsfield
59
Your Score
56
Area Score
Ames
67
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Pittsfield, MA Metro Area · Ames, IA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology