Beneath the small town charm of Ames, Iowa, beats the heart of a much larger city. A city that has become a player in developing the world's bio-economic future. A city with top-quality education, from kindergarten to grad school. A city that regularly draws well-known bands, as well as emerging superstars, international symphonies and Broadway musicals. A city with hundreds of acres of parks, 35 miles of bike trails, and cultural festivals and celebrations. A city that's been ranked the 2nd most liveable small city in the nation.
HOW AMES RANKS
Best College Town Rankings
- No. 1 Wall Street, 2020
- No. 3 Business Insider, 2016
- No. 3, Livability.com, 2023
- No. 5, Best College Reviews, 2017
- No. 2, American Institute for Economic Research, 2013-2014
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
- The 10 Best College Towns in America, The Discoverer Blog, 2023
Things to Do in Ames
Additional information on Ames
- Child Care
- Discover Ames (Visitor Information)
- Ames Government
- CyRide
- Ames Walking Trails
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.