Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 189, founded in 1893.
Only 3 of the 132 Oklahoma towns we compare have a higher median age than Ames. Ames has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 278 in 1920, a peak of 332 in 1940, 193 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2021 and 2 maps from 1956 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ames, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Ames.
At 90 of 100, Ames’ FEMA risk score is where Oklahoma’s towns sit at 61 of 100 and U.S. towns at 44 of 100.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Most working residents leave Ames for work: only 0% work in town. Since 2013, Ames has lost 291 jobs, to 19 in 2023. At $49,000, Ames’ median household income is against $55,000 in Oklahoma’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns.
| Ames | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 18% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
90% of Ames households own their home. Typical home values rose 13% in the year to September 2026.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Ames has chilly winters and hot summers. Ames’ July high is 96°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Ames beats the Oklahoma average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 33% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Ames.
| Ames | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 38% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 34% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 41% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 77% | 78% | 79% |
| What stands out | Ames | OK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 8.3% | 10.3% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20.1% | 16.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Ames; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Ames residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oklahoma.
Where Ames’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Oklahoma, United States
Ames is a town in southeastern Major County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 193 at the 2020 census, down from 239 in 2010. Ames is best known for being located within the boundary of a geological structure that is called the Ames crater or the Ames Astrobleme. The Ames Astrobleme Museum is located in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Ames has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.