Assisted Living Facilities in Ames, Iowa

CaringScore for Ames, IA

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Ames was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose assisted living facilities in Ames.

CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 5.7, Ames rates above average for those seeking assisted living facilities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Ames. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Ames, IA

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Ames, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for assisted living facilities. The HealthScore for Ames is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 7.5, Ames rates above average for those seeking assisted living facilities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults. At just 195.9 physicians per capita, Ames trails the national average by 11.2 percent. Ames trails the national average in geriatricians per capita by 100.0 percent, with 0, and scores 13.3 percent below the national average in specialists per capita, with 16.9. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Ames is 80.7 years -- 3.6 percent higher than most of the country. Air quality in Ames -- one factor in gauging the healthfulness of a region -- is 14.5 percent above average, and water quality -- another key measure of Ames's environmental health -- is 10.9 percent above average.

Doctors Per Capita	Ames, IA	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	195.9	220.5
Geriatricians	0	1.3
Cardiologists	5.6	7.7
Oncologists	5.6	3.5
Orthopedists	5.6	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Ames, IA

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Ames, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for assisted living facilities. The CostScore for Ames is based on data such as the average monthly cost of assisted living facilities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 4.7, Ames is on par with the national average for assisted living facilities.

The average monthly cost for assisted living facilities in Ames is $3,928 , which is 20.5 percent more expensive than the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Ames is roughly equal to the national average. Average healthcare costs index at 98 of 10, roughly the same as the national average, and the cost of housing index is 98 of 10, which mirrors the rest of the country.

Cost of Living	Ames, IA
Aggregate Index	95
Healthcare Index	98
Housing Index	98
Food Index	94
Utilities Index	83
Transportation Index	105

Assisted Living Facilities Avg Monthly Cost (US$)

LivabilityScore for Ames, IA

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for assisted living facilities in Ames. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for assisted living facilities. The LivabilityScore for Ames is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 4.2, Ames rates below average for assisted living facilities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for assisted living facilities. The sun shines an average of 202 days each year in Ames, which is about average in the U.S. With an average temperature of 10°F in January, winters tend to be colder in Ames than in other parts of the country, and summers often mirror nationwide seasonal trends, averaging 86°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Ames is 50.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 25.0 percent higher than average. At $44,353 per year, the population of Ames earns a lower than average median household income. Ames has an unemployment rate of 4.10 percent, roughly 54.9 percent lower than the national average. And about 8.45 percent of the population in Ames is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which trails the national average by 35.8 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Ames	Nat'l Avg
Parks	1.3	136.1
Libraries	14	18.8
Places of Worship	115	220.5
Public Transit	413.3	110.4
Grocery Stores	67.4	97.7
Pharmacies	15.6	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65