The population of Ames is approximately 61,700 people. Its median age is 23.8 years. Only 13.4% of its residents are under the age of 18 years old. Forty-nine percent of the city's population is between the ages of 25 and 44, and fifteen percent are 65 years of age or older. Its gender makeup is roughly fifty-three percent male and forty-seven percent female.
Ames is home to the Iowa State University, a public land-grant research university founded in 1858. It was previously known as the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. It also has several Federal and State institutions, including the National Animal Disease Center and Ames Laboratory, a materials research and development facility. Its economy is largely based on agriculture, with agriculture-related businesses being one of the city's largest employers.
Among Iowa's larger cities, Ames has a predominantly White population. While the city is less ethnically diverse than other cities, it is relatively family-oriented, with 60% of over-fifteens having children under eighteen. The city's livability index shows that Ames is a good place to live, although it does have a lot of problems. Its average age is 23, making it a great place for raising a family.
The Iowa State Cyclones play a number of sports in the Ames area, including football at the Jack Trice Stadium. They play in the NCAA Division I-A, and are charter members of the Big 12 Conference. The university also has a popular women's tennis program. And of course, the city is home to the Amelia Earhart Institute. The state has an active political scene during election years.