Ames, the home of Iowa State, ranked in the New Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities as the second most livable small city in the nation. In 2008 Forbes magazine rated Ames number six among the "25 smartest cities in the USA." Ames is located in Story County, rated by CNN Money as the second best county in the United States under the category "Best places for a long life." The city of 50,000 people lies 30 minutes north of Des Moines, in central Iowa.

Ames benefits from the university's cosmopolitan atmosphere and offers the advantages of a small city (pop. 50,000). Cyclone Stadium and the various performing arts facilities of the Iowa State Center (James H. Hilton Coliseum, C. Y. Stephens Auditorium, and Fisher Theater) host major concerts, touring companies, small-venue artists and groups, and other cultural events. Ames has an extensive, well-maintained, and accessible park system; the downtown park hosts evening band concerts once a week throughout the summer. Students with families will find excellent public schools (ranked 12th nationally as of 2006), numerous activities and organizations for children, and many day care centers. The City of Ames, Iowa State students, and the University itself collectively support an efficient public transportation system. Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city, offers additional cultural attractions, including outstanding art and science centers and triple-A baseball in a beautifully remodeled ballpark.

see also:

• Forbes: "The Smartest Cities In America"
• CNN Money: "Best Places for a Long Life"
• Data about Ames, Iowa
• City of Ames Website