PlainZIP

Ames, IA · standard

ZIP Code 50014

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

28,094
194/sq mi
$60,731
Median income
$336,800
Median home value
68.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

30th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 28%
home value, US ZIPs
194
people per sq mi
37%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50014 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 50014 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ames, Story County, Iowa, with 28,094 residents across 144.7 square miles, a density of 194 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 50014 reports a modest median household income of $60,731 (21% below the Iowa average), while per-capita income is $38,198. 29.2% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 7.0%. The typical home here is valued at $336,800 (92% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,065 monthly, and 36.6% of units are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 68.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 23.3, and the average commute is 16 minutes. To put 50014 in local context, 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Story County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 50014

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ames, IA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50014.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50014, 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

28,094

Population

144.7

Area (sq mi)

194

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 50014?

23.3

Median Age

54.7%

Male

45.3%

Female

12.7%

Foreign-Born

White 75.2%
African American 4.1%
Asian 11.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%

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?

$60,731

Median Household Income

-21% vs state

$38,198

Per Capita Income

29.2%

Poverty Rate

7.0%

Unemployment Rate

15.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 50014 ranks nationally

Ames, IA household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$60,731 30th percentile higher than 30% 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 77.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 68.1%

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

What does housing look like?

15,026

Total Housing Units

13,511

Occupied Units

1,515

Vacant Units

2.31

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 36.6%
Renter 63.4%

$336,800

Median Home Value

+92% vs state

$1,065

Median Rent

1997

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

+2.4%

YoY Change (2024)

202

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+102%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 50014 have increased 2.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +102% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.6% 152
2021 +8.0% 164
2022 +9.3% 179
2023 +10.5% 198
2024 +2.4% 202

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 394 business establishments in ZIP 50014, employing approximately 4,019 people with a combined annual payroll of $130,829,000.

394

Businesses

4,019

Employees

$130.8M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 81 20.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 43 10.9%
Construction 39 9.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 38 9.6%
Health care and social assistance 38 9.6%
Other services (except public administration) 37 9.4%
Retail trade 30 7.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 19 4.8%
Wholesale trade 12 3.0%
Finance and insurance 11 2.8%
Educational services 10 2.5%
Manufacturing 9 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 9 2.3%
Transportation and warehousing 7 1.8%
Information 5 1.3%

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 50014 vs 50012 →

ZIP 50014 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 50014 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 50014 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 50014 ranks #6 of 6 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
50012 Ames, IA 4,062 2.9 mi
50011 Ames, IA 1,390 3.4 mi
50105 Gilbert, IA 1,158 5.2 mi
50010 Ames, IA 29,359 5.5 mi
50134 Kelley, IA 660 7.6 mi
50248 Story City, IA 4,420 10.8 mi
50156 Madrid, IA 4,412 11.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Story County

50010 standard
Ames, IA
Pop: 29,359
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 50014 in? ▼
ZIP code 50014 (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 50014? ▼
ZIP code 50014 in Ames, IA has a population of 28,094 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50014? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 50014 is $60,731, which is 20% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50014? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 50014 is $336,800, which is 21% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50014? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 50014 is White at 75.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50014? ▼
ZIP code 50014 has 394 business establishments employing approximately 4,019 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50014? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50014 are: Accommodation and food services (81), Professional, scientific, and technical services (43), Construction (39). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50014? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50014 increased by 2.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 102%. 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 50014? ▼
In ZIP code 50014, 77.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 68.1% 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 50014? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50014 is 15.9 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 50014? ▼
In ZIP code 50014, approximately 36.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50014? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50014 is 29.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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