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 High-density area
- $60,731
- Median income Below-median income area
- $336,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 68.1%
- 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, 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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 50014 (Ames, IA) rose +2.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 197.6 in 2023 to 202.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,198. The poverty rate is 29.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $336,800 (92% above the average Iowa ZIP), with only 36.6% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,065.
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. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Story County, so 50014 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 50014
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ames, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50014.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
81 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
43 establishments
- Construction
Construction
39 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
38 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
38 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 50014?
23.3
Median Age
54.7%
Male
45.3%
Female
12.7%
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?
$60,731
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$38,198
Per Capita Income
29.2%
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Unemployment Rate
15.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50014 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)
$60,731 19th percentile higher than 19% 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
15,026housing units
15,026
Total Housing Units
13,511
Occupied Units
1,515
Vacant Units
2.31
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$336,800
Median Home Value
+92% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 50010
Ames (50010)
29,359 residents
- 50014
Ames (50014)
28,094 residents
- 50248 4,420
Story City (50248)
4,420 residents
- 50156 4,412
Madrid (50156)
4,412 residents
- 50012 4,062
Ames (50012)
4,062 residents
- 50011 1,390
Ames (50011)
1,390 residents
- 50105 1,158
Gilbert (50105)
1,158 residents
- 50134 660
Kelley (50134)
660 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50014 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50014 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
- 50134
Kelley (50134)
$111,250 median income
- 50248
Story City (50248)
$100,864 median income
- 50156
Madrid (50156)
$98,054 median income
- 50010
Ames (50010)
$65,398 median income
- 50014
Ames (50014)
$60,731 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50014, 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 (28,094 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 50014's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50014 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
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.