Ames vs Marshalltown
Ames, Iowa versus Marshalltown, Iowa: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Marshalltown edges out Ames on overall objective livability (49 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Ames | Marshalltown |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $57k | $65k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $43k |
| Home Value | $248k | $110k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $832 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.51% | 1.83% |
| Income Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.94% | 6.94% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.81% | 11.38% |
| Unemployment | 7.1% | 6.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 20°F | 19°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5 in | 36.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.3 in | 25.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 194 days | 233 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 90 days | 92 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 43.9 | 55.8 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 51 AQI |
| School Quality | 86.7 | 49.8 |
| Violent Crime | 717/100k | 955/100k |
| Property Crime | 1289/100k | 1212/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 66,265 | 27,511 |
| Median Age | 23.0 | 35.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.35 | 0.47 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.16 | 1.03 |
| Political Leaning | D+18 | Even |
| White (%) | 78.3% | 55.7% |
| Black (%) | 3.2% | 2.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.9% | 33.6% |
| Asian (%) | 10.1% | 5.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.5% | 3.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 8.6/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 128 mi | 162 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 71.3% | 83.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 29.73 | 12.00 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ames or Marshalltown more affordable?
- Marshalltown has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Ames's $46k and Marshalltown's $43k. Median rent is $1k in Ames versus $832 in Marshalltown.
- Is Ames or Marshalltown safer?
- Ames has the lower violent crime rate. Ames reports 717/100k and Marshalltown reports 955/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Ames or Marshalltown?
- The median home value is $248k in Ames and $110k in Marshalltown, so homes are more affordable in Marshalltown.