Ames consistently garners national recognition for its favorable economy, business climate, cost of living and sense of community. Whether you're looking to come to Ames to attend school, start your career, start a family or retire, you'll find the following accolades impressive.
- #2 - "State Parks That Rival National Parks" (Livability, 2021)
- #5 - "Best Iowa High Schools" (U.S. News & World Report, 2021)
- #22 - "Top Cities for Shorter, Better-Paid Hours" (RewardExpert, 2021)
- #37 - "Best Small Cities for Small Businesses" (Go.Verizon, 2021)
- #1 - "10 Best States to Retire in 2021" (MoneyRates, 2021)
- #15 - "2020 Top 100 Places to Live" (Livability, 2020)
- #42 - "Best Housing Markets for Growth & Stability" (SmartAsset, 2020)
- #2 - "Top 10 Cities for Working Parents" (SmartAsset, 2020)
- #6 - "Best US Cities to Live in After the Pandemic" (Business Insider, 2020)
- #6 - "AG Top 25: The Most Affordable College Towns for Renters" (ApartmentGuide.com, 2019)
- #9 - "The Top 10 Best U.S. States for Education" (US News, 2019)
- #14 - "Overall Best States Rankings" (US News, 2019)
- #7 - "Top 10 Cities for Career Opportunities in 2019" (SmartAsset, 2019)
- #4 - "Best Places for Millennials to Move" (Reviews.org, 2019)
- #39 – “Best Small Cities for Business” (Chamber of Commerce, 2019)
- #1 – “10 Best States in America for Jobs” (Zippia, 2019)
- #33 – “Top 100 Places to Live in 2019” (Livability, 2019)
- Home of the Best "US Metro Job Market" (CNBC, 2018)
- One of the "9 Great Off-the-Beaten-Path Towns Where You Should Live" (House Method, 2018)
- #1 - "Best College Towns in America" (24/7 Wall St., 2018)
- "Top 10 Best College Towns" (Livability, 2018)
- #1 - "The Top 10 Cities for Career Opportunities in 2018" (SmartAsset, 2018)
- #1 - "The Best Affordable College Towns for Recent Grads—and Everyone Else" (Realtor.com, 2018)
- #1 - "Best Cities for Working Parents" (SmartAsset, 2018)
- Ames named an "Up-and-Coming Tech Hotspot" (Livability, 2018)
- "Top 5 Small Metro Areas for Retirees to Age Successfully" (Investopedia, 2018)
- "The Most Fitness Friendly Places of 2018" (SmartAsset, 2017)
- "Best Public High School in the State" (24/7 Wall St., 2017)
- #1 - "2017 Best Places to Live in Iowa" (Niche, 2017)
- #1 - "The Top 10 Cities for Career Opportunities in 2017" (SmartAsset, 2017)
- Story County named #8 "Top 10 Mid-Sized Communities for 2017" (Fourth Economy, 2017)
- #1 - Silicon Prairie Rankings (Silicon Prairie, 2017)
- Top Midwest City For Affordability & Livability (TurboTenant, 2017)
- Best Cities for Successful Aging in the U.S. (The Milken Institute, 2017)
- Top 10 Easiest Places in Iowa to Sell a Home (SmartAsset, 2017)
- Ames named "Technology Community of the Year" (Technology Association of Iowa, 2017)
- Top 5 Small Metro Areas for Successful Aging (NCOA, 2017)
- "Top 3 Cities Where Job Growth is Happening" (NationalSwell, 2017)
- Home of the "Best School District in Iowa" (Business Insider, 2017)
- "Best School District in the State" (Niche, 2017)
- "The 25 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs" #8 (Entrepreneur Magazine, 2017)
- "Best Places to Live 2016" (MONEY, 2016)
- "Best Performing Cities" #11 (Milken Institute, 2016)
- "Best Small Cities for New Grads" (OnlineDegrees, 2016)
- "Most Charitable Cities" (The Beacon, 2016)
- #9 "Top 10 College Towns to Live In" (SmartAsset, 2016)
- #8 "The Top 10 Cities for Career Opportunities in 2016" (SmartAsset, 2016)
- #3 "The Healthiest Cities in America" (24/7 Wall St., 2016)
- Iowa State University named "Best College in Iowa" (MONEY, 2016)
- #3 "Best College Towns in America" (Business Insider, 2016)
- #5 Medium Cities in "Top U.S. Cities for Public Transportation" (Save on Energy, 2016)
- #3 "Best Farmers' Markets in Iowa" (Around Iowa, 2016)
- #4 "Best Small Cities for Making a Living" (MoneyGreek, 2016)
- U.S. City with the Lowest Unemployment Rate (Forbes, 2016)
- #3 on "2015 Best-Performing Small Cities: Where America's Jobs Are Created and Sustained" list (Milken Institute, 2015)
- #1 "College Cities and Towns in America" (American Institute for Economic Research, 2015)
- ISU ranked 5th "Most Beautiful College Campus in the World" (Buzzfeed, 2015)
- #7 "Top 10 Best City for Singles, 2015" (Livability.com, 2015)
- #35 in “Top 100 Most Livable Cities in America” for 2016 (Livability, 2015)
- #1 Healthiest City in the Country (24/7 Wall St., 2015)
- #8, "Best Cities in America to Get a Job" (Business Insider, 2015)
- #1 "The Top 10 Places for EMTs and Paramedics," (Good Call, 2015)
- Named one of the 15 Cities That Have Done the Best Since the Recession, (Bloomberg, 2015)
- Ranked in the top 25 nationally for "Best Places for STEM Grads" (#23, Nerdwallet, 2015)
- #8 "Best Towns for Millennials in America" (Niche Rankings, 2015)
- #30 "Best Towns in America" (Niche Rankings, 2015)
- #1 "Best Towns in Iowa" (Niche Rankings, 2015)
- #1 "Towns with the Best Community in Iowa" (Niche Rankings, 2015)
- #21 "Towns with the Best Community in America" (Niche Rankings, 2015)
- Ames ranked 2nd on the list of "The Top 10 College Towns" (The Fiscal Times, 2015)
- #5 on the "50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever" List (College Ranker, 2015)
- #2 "Top U.S. Cities for Hipsters" (FindtheHome, 2015)
- Ames ranked #2 "The 20 Best College Towns In America" (American Institute for Economic Research, 2014-2015)
