Skip to main content

Area data

Ames, IA — ZIP 50012

Population: 1,913 (Census ACS)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, tornado, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

Home values & appreciation

House Price Index (state)
379.0 (+3.7% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
87.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, tornado, winterWeather, hail, iceStorm
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low · lightning: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 15% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
26.4%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
48.3°F
Average high
59.0°F
Average low
37.3°F
Annual precipitation
40.5 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
11
Nearest airport
Ames Municipal Airport (AMW) (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (34 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
13
Hospitals include
TRINITY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER, MERCYONE NEWTON MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.7 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
18
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Housing stock

Housing built before 1970
0.0%
Housing built 2000 or later
100.0%
Households with broadband internet
100.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
33,301
Average weekly wage
$1,122
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Professional Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
141

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 50012?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, tornado, winterWeather, hail, iceStorm.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 50012?
Risk to homes is higher than 15% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 50012?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 50012?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 50012?
Regional Price Parity: 87.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

Selling a home in Ames, IA?

REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.

Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents