City Comparison
Ames vs Sioux City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Ames scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Ames
Sioux City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sioux City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Ames.
Housing costs are a major driver: Ames's average rent is
11% higher than Sioux City's.
| Metric | Ames | Sioux City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $950 | +11% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $160 | $175 | -9% |
| Transport | $100 | $110 | -9% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $220 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $1,920 | $1,835 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Ames offers 9% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Ames delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Ames is estimated at
$52,000 vs $45,000 in Sioux City.
| Metric | Ames | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,000 | $56,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,304 idx | 63,636 idx |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $62,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.3°F of each other.
For sunshine, Sioux City comes out ahead with 25 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Ames sees 6.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Ames | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.10°F | 51.40°F |
| Summer High | 81.40°F | 83.00°F |
| Winter Low | 14.30°F | 13.80°F |
| Rainfall | 37.50 in | 31.50 in |
| Snowfall | 28.40 in | 21.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 255 | 280 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Ames scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Ames leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Ames | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 17 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 65.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | 35.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux City is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Ames.
From a growth perspective, Ames is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Ames has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Ames | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,439 | 85,797 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 24.8 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.50% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Ames
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest mid-sized cities in the United States per FBI crime data.
Home to Iowa State University, providing world-class cultural events, Division I athletics, and continuing education.
Extensive network of parks, natural areas, and over 55 miles of paved bicycle and pedestrian trails.
Strong local economy anchored by education, biotech research, and healthcare with steady job growth.
Highly rated public school district with excellent graduation rates and student resources.
Drawbacks
Rental market can be competitive and subject to price surges driven by the academic calendar.
Winters bring harsh temperatures and significant snowfall requiring robust municipal snow removal.
Local sales and property taxes in Iowa can feel relatively high compared to some neighboring states.
Public transportation options outside of the core CyRide routes are somewhat limited.
Proximity to a major airport requires a 40-minute drive to Des Moines International.
Sioux City
Advantages
Median home prices in Sioux City are significantly lower than the national average per the U.S. Census Bureau.
Average commute times are under 18 minutes, well below the U.S. national average per BLS data.
A thriving healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne and UnityPoint Health provides robust medical services.
Abundant outdoor recreation including over 50 public parks and extensive Missouri River trail systems.
Strong local higher education institutions like Morningside University and Briar Cliff University.
Drawbacks
Winter temperatures can be harsh, with average winter lows dropping to 13.8°F per Open-Meteo climate data.
Limited public transit options require high car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Average household incomes trail behind top-tier national metropolitan benchmarks.
Limited direct commercial air travel options at Sioux Gateway Airport necessitate driving to larger hubs like Omaha.
Pockets of the urban core face ongoing economic revitalization and property crime challenges.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Ames
#100Iowa, USA
67.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,050
Avg Salary
$61,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
65.0/100
Sunny Days
255/yr
Avg Temp
51.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
2.50%
Livability
82
Business
74
Sioux City
#173Iowa, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
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