Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Ames, NY Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

Median Agei

48.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

92%80

Two or More

8%7

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

High School Diploma

26.8%19

Some College (<1 yr)

4.2%3

Some College (1+ yr)

4.2%3

Associate's Degree

22.5%16

Bachelor's Degree

31%22

Master's Degree

11.3%8

HS or Higher

100%

BA or Higher

42.3%

Graduate+

11.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$157,800

Median Renti

—

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

100%40

Total Units

Homeownership

100%

Vacancy Rate

24.5%

Home Values

$50K–$100K

15%6

$100K–$150K

22.5%9

$150K–$200K

42.5%17

$200K–$300K

17.5%7

$500K–$1M

2.5%1

Year Built

1970–1979

5.7%3

1960–1969

9.4%5

1950–1959

5.7%3

1939 or earlier

79.2%42

Heating Fuel

Fuel Oil

95%38

Utility Gas

2.5%1

Wood

2.5%1

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$112,500

Mean Household Incomei

$123,198

Per Capita Incomei

$52,238

Poverty Ratei

1.1%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.5%1

$20K–$25K

2.5%1

$30K–$35K

2.5%1

$40K–$45K

2.5%1

$50K–$60K

7.5%3

$60K–$75K

5%2

$75K–$100K

17.5%7

$100K–$125K

12.5%5

$125K–$150K

15%6

$150K–$200K

10%4

$200K+

22.5%9

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers1 homes

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

22.3%

By Region

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

Avg. Commutei

43.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

8(10.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

98.9%Insured

1.1%Uninsured