PlainZIP

Ames, IA · standard

ZIP Code 50010

Story County, Iowa — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

29,359
190/sq mi
$65,398
Median income
$253,500
Median home value
62.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ames pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

39th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 42%
home value, US ZIPs
190
people per sq mi
53%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50010 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 50010 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 154.8 square miles in Ames, Story County, Iowa. The area is home to 29,359 residents, producing a population density of 190 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 50010 against Iowa and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 50010 sits at $65,398 (15% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $38,398. The poverty rate stands at 17.1% and the unemployment rate at 3.7%. On housing, the median home value is $253,500 (44% above the state average) with median rent at $973 per month, and 53.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 50010 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 62.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.8, and the average commute is 16 minutes. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Story County, so you can benchmark 50010 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 50010

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50010.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50010, Ames, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

29,359

Population

154.8

Area (sq mi)

190

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 50010?

28.8

Median Age

50.2%

Male

49.8%

Female

11.4%

Foreign-Born

White 81.3%
African American 3.6%
Asian 7.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$65,398

Median Household Income

-15% vs state

$38,398

Per Capita Income

17.1%

Poverty Rate

3.7%

Unemployment Rate

16.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 50010 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$65,398 39th percentile higher than 39% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 75.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 62.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

14,980

Total Housing Units

14,233

Occupied Units

747

Vacant Units

2.06

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 53.2%
Renter 46.8%

$253,500

Median Home Value

+44% vs state

$973

Median Rent

1979

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+5.6%

YoY Change (2024)

207

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+107%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 50010 have increased 5.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +107% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.2% 152
2021 +5.9% 160
2022 +10.2% 177
2023 +11.1% 196
2024 +5.6% 207

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 1,158 business establishments in ZIP 50010, employing approximately 23,020 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,405,449,000.

1,158

Businesses

23,020

Employees

$1.4B

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 181 15.6%
Health care and social assistance 150 12.9%
Accommodation and food services 130 11.2%
Other services (except public administration) 127 11.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 125 10.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 80 6.9%
Finance and insurance 79 6.8%
Construction 76 6.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 54 4.7%
Manufacturing 32 2.8%
Information 29 2.5%
Wholesale trade 27 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 24 2.1%
Transportation and warehousing 20 1.7%
Educational services 16 1.4%
Management of companies and enterprises 4 0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 50010 vs 50011 →

ZIP 50010 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50010 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 50010 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 50010 ranks #7 of 8 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
50011 Ames, IA 1,390 2.6 mi
50012 Ames, IA 4,062 3.0 mi
50014 Ames, IA 28,094 5.5 mi
50105 Gilbert, IA 1,158 5.9 mi
50201 Nevada, IA 8,199 7.4 mi
50124 Huxley, IA 3,750 10.3 mi
50134 Kelley, IA 660 7.8 mi
50046 Cambridge, IA 1,524 10.2 mi
50236 Roland, IA 1,550 10.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Story County

50014 standard
Ames, IA
Pop: 28,094
50201 standard
Nevada, IA
Pop: 8,199
50248 standard
Story City, IA
Pop: 4,420
50012 standard
Ames, IA
Pop: 4,062
50124 standard
Huxley, IA
Pop: 3,750
50161 standard
Maxwell, IA
Pop: 2,047

Related Areas

Story County Ames, IA Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 50010 in? ▼
ZIP code 50010 (Ames) is located in Story County, Iowa. Story County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/story-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50010? ▼
ZIP code 50010 in Ames, IA has a population of 29,359 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50010? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 50010 is $65,398, which is 14% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50010? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 50010 is $253,500, which is 9% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50010? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 50010 is White at 81.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50010? ▼
ZIP code 50010 has 1,158 business establishments employing approximately 23,020 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50010? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50010 are: Retail trade (181), Health care and social assistance (150), Accommodation and food services (130). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50010? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50010 increased by 5.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 107%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 50010? ▼
In ZIP code 50010, 75.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 62.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 50010? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50010 is 16.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 50010? ▼
In ZIP code 50010, approximately 53.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 46.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50010? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50010 is 17.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Ames, IA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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