How long is the commute from Ames, IA?
Workers who live in Ames, IA take an average of 15.6 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
62.5% of workers drive alone to work.
5.5% take public transportation.
10.2% of workers walk to work.
12.1% work from home.
7.2% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 15.6 minutes (±0.8)
- Public transportation
- 5.5%
- Work from home
- 12.1%
- Households without a car
- 7.2%
How people in Ames get to work
| Means of transportation | Ames | Story County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 62.5% (±2.0 points) | 68.3% | 76.0% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 7.3% (±1.2 points) | 6.9% | 7.8% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 5.5% (±1.1 points) | 3.9% | 0.7% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 10.2% (±1.1 points) | 7.3% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 2.3% (±0.6 points) | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 12.1% (±1.4 points) | 11.8% | 11.3% | 15.1% |
In Ames, the average commute is lower than in Story County (17.8 minutes).
It is also lower than in Iowa (19.8 minutes).
It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In Ames, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in Story County (3.9%).
It is also higher than in Iowa (0.7%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).
In Story County, Ames ranks 15 of 15 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 835 of 918.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in Ames
| Vehicles available | Ames | Story County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 7.2% (±1.2 points) | 5.8% | 5.4% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 39.1% (±2.3 points) | 33.9% | 30.5% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 34.8% (±2.1 points) | 37.3% | 37.8% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 18.9% (±1.9 points) | 23.1% | 26.3% | 21.9% |
In Ames, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Story County (5.8%).
It is also higher than in Iowa (5.4%).
It is not measurably different from the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in Ames
| Ames | Story County | Iowa | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 12.1% (±1.4 points) | 11.8% (±1.1 points) | 11.3% (±0.2 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% (±0.7 points) | 97.7% (±0.6 points) | 94.7% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 74.2% (±2.2 points) | 80.4% (±1.6 points) | 88.9% (±0.2 points) | 91.0% |
In Ames, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in Story County (80.4%).
It is also lower than in Iowa (88.9%).
It is lower than the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near Ames
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | — | 15.6 minutes (±0.8) | — |
| Gilbert | 5.7 mi | 18.3 minutes (±2.6) | Not measurably different |
| Kelley | 5.7 mi | 21.7 minutes (±3.6) | Higher |
| Nevada | 7.8 mi | 18.0 minutes (±2.5) | Not measurably different |
| Huxley | 9.1 mi | 25.8 minutes (±2.3) | Higher |
| Cambridge | 9.6 mi | 24.0 minutes (±2.4) | Higher |
| Slater | 11 mi | 23.3 minutes (±3.3) | Higher |
| Luther | 11 mi | 26.2 minutes (±3.8) | Higher |
| Story City | 11 mi | 23.4 minutes (±6.2) | Higher |
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Kelley, IA (21.7 minutes), Huxley, IA (25.8 minutes), Cambridge, IA (24.0 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across Story County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Story City | 23.4 minutes (±6.2) |
| 10 | Slater | 23.3 minutes (±3.3) |
| 11 | McCallsburg | 22.2 minutes (±6.7) |
| 12 | Kelley | 21.7 minutes (±3.6) |
| 13 | Gilbert | 18.3 minutes (±2.6) |
| 14 | Nevada | 18.0 minutes (±2.5) |
| 15 | Ames | 15.6 minutes (±0.8) |
Showing 7 of 15 places in Story County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Ames
How long is the average commute in Ames?
Workers who live in Ames, IA take an average of 15.6 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in Ames without a car?
7.2% of households in Ames have no vehicle, and 5.5% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in Ames?
12.1% (±1.4 points) of workers who live in Ames worked from home, and 74.2% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ames city, Iowa
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ames city, Iowa
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ames city, Iowa
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Ames city, Iowa (place:01855, in state:19).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free key.
DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .
Related
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- Crime reported to police in Ames
- Population growth in Ames
- How long people stay in Ames
- Crowding and facilities in Ames
- Iowa landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Story County
- Iowa places ranked by commute time
- Housing data for every place in Iowa