Quality of Life

Ames
Ames area residents really do enjoy the charming atmosphere of a small town with all the amenities of a big city.

Ames ranks...

• 13th Geekiest City in the U.S. (Forbes.com, 2011)
• Fifth Fastest Growing Small City in the U.S. (Forbes.com, 2010)
• Seventeenth Best Small Place for Business & Careers (Forbes.com, 2010)
• Ninth Best Place to Live in the United States (CNNMoney.com, 2010)
• Named 100 Best Communities (America's Promise Alliance, 2010)
• Fourth Best College Town Under 250,000 Residents (American Institute for Economic Research, 2010)
• Ranked 15th Brainiest Metro (American Social & Economic Theorist Richard Florida, 2010)
• Most Affordable Cities for Data Security for Banks (The Boyd Co., 2010)
• Best Places to Launch a Business (CNNMoney.com, 2009)
• Best Places to Raise Your Kids (Business Week, 2009)
• Top 15 Cities for Commuters (US News, 2009)
• Top 5 Places to Live a Stress-Free and Simpler Life (AARP, 2009)

Recreation in Ames
What’s your pleasure? A Broadway show, some of the best blues, a little rock n’ roll, country, classical or jazz? Maybe you want some Big XII sports action. Ames provides all this and much more. A great place to learn, Ames is a classic university town, a regional entertainment center, and an All-American City. Take a moment to tour art galleries and antique stores, to stroll through Reiman Gardens, to do a bit of shopping, and to savor the community's diverse culinary delights. Ames will keep you hopping and our neighbors will also add to your fun: Boone’s Scenic Valley Railroad, the Iowa Arboretum, the Story City Carousel, and more are all just minutes from Ames. The Ames area offers something for everyone.

Ames & Story County Attractions
Ada Hayden Heritage Park
Ames Historical Society
Donald and Ruth Furman Outdoor Aquatic Center
Hickory Grove Park
Iowa State University
McFarland Park
Main Street Cultural District
Octagon Center for the Arts
Prairie Moon Winery & Vineyards
Story City Antique Carousel

Boone & Boone County Attractions
Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad
Ledges State Park
Iowa Arboretum
Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace


Iowa
Iowans enjoy something that is hard to find elsewhere: balance! The kind of balance experienced when they’re able to meet not only their career objectives, but personal and family goals as well.

What people find when they make Iowa home is a genuinely great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. They discover a place where neighbors are friendly, commutes are short, and quality public education is a reality. They realize vibrant shopping and entertainment possibilities and endless recreational opportunities. Iowa is all this and more.



Iowa Rankings...

• Story County is number four on America's Best Affordable Places list (Business Week, 2011)
• Story County ranked the third in the state of Iowa for overall health (University of Madison Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2011)
• Ranked the nation's second most livable state based on 43 factors ranging from median household income to crime rate and from sunny days to infant mortality rate (CQ Press, 2010)
• Named the sixth best state to raise a child (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2010)
• Ninth in the nation for number of state parks, recreational areas and natural areas (CQ Press, 2010) 
• Ranks in safest neighborhoods in the U.S (CQ Press, 2010)
• Has the third highest public high school graduation rate in the U.S. (CQ Press, 2010)
• First in corn production and first in soybean production, respectively (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2009)
• First in soybean and feed grain exports (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2009)
• First in hog production (U.S. Department of Agriculture) 
• Nine metros in Iowa are ranked among the best places in America to start a business or career (Forbes, 2009)
• Iowans enjoy the eighth lowest housing costs (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009)
• Iowans enjoy the seventh shortest average commute time (18.5 minutes) among the 50 states (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009)
• Iowa's capital city, Des Moines, was listed as one of the best cities to live, work, and play (Kiplinger, 2008) 
• Listed as the seventh best state for lawsuit climate (Institute for Legal Reform, 2008)
• Ranks as the 14th best state to find a job (CareerBuilder.com, 2008)
• Second most favorable state for the cost of doing business (Milken Institute, 2007) 
• Eighth in safest neighborhoods in the U.S. (Morgan Quinto, 2007)
• Has the third highest graduation rate in the U.S. (Morgan Quinto, 2007)