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 High-density area
- $65,398
- Median income Near-median income area
- $253,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 62.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 50010 (Ames, IA) rose +5.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 196.4 in 2023 to 207.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50010 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ames, Story County, Iowa, with 29,359 residents across 154.8 square miles, a density of 190 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50010 reports a modest median household income of $65,398 (15% below the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,398. The poverty rate is 17.1%, with unemployment at 3.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $253,500 (44% above the average Iowa ZIP) and median rent is $973; 53.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 62.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.8, and the average commute is 16 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Story County, so 50010 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 50010
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ames, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50010.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
181 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
150 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
130 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
127 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
125 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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
Who lives in ZIP 50010?
28.8
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
11.4%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$38,398
Per Capita Income
17.1%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
16.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50010 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Ames, IA household income vs. every Iowa ZIP code
Median household income among 911 reporting Iowa ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$65,398 31st percentile higher than 31% of 911 Iowa ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Iowa 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
14,980housing units
14,980
Total Housing Units
14,233
Occupied Units
747
Vacant Units
2.06
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$253,500
Median Home Value
+44% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 50010
Ames (50010)
29,359 residents
- 50014
Ames (50014)
28,094 residents
- 50201 8,199
Nevada (50201)
8,199 residents
- 50012 4,062
Ames (50012)
4,062 residents
- 50124 3,750
Huxley (50124)
3,750 residents
- 50236 1,550
Roland (50236)
1,550 residents
- 50046 1,524
Cambridge (50046)
1,524 residents
- 50011 1,390
Ames (50011)
1,390 residents
- 50105 1,158
Gilbert (50105)
1,158 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50010 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50010 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50105
Gilbert (50105)
$130,083 median income
- 50124
Huxley (50124)
$114,904 median income
- 50134
Kelley (50134)
$111,250 median income
- 50236
Roland (50236)
$85,046 median income
- 50046
Cambridge (50046)
$81,500 median income
- 50201
Nevada (50201)
$81,027 median income
- 50010
Ames (50010)
$65,398 median income
- 50014
Ames (50014)
$60,731 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50010, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (29,359 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Story County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 50010's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50010 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Ames, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.