Best College Town Rankings

Other Rankings

  • 3rd Healthiest City in America, 24/7 Wall Street, 2016
  • Among the Top 25 ‘Smartest College Towns,” The Daily Beast, 2011
  • 8th Among Best Places (Small Cities) to live in, Money, 2014
  • Top 15 cities for people who hate long commutes, U.S. News & World Report, 2009
  • U.S. City with the Lowest Unemployment Rate (2.2%), Forbes, 2016
  • Ranked No. 7 on the list of The Happiest Small Places in America, Movoto, 2014
  • 64th Best Small and Mid-Size American City (20,000 to 1,000,000), Livability.com, 2021

Things to Do in Ames

Additional information on Ames

Catch Des Moines
Des Moines is located 30 minutes south of Ames and is Iowa’s largest city and serves as the state capital. With a metro population of 569,633, Des Moines is a bustling metropolis that is a great place to live, work and play. No matter the season, experience the best things Greater Des Moines has to offer with exciting attractions, activities and events all year.