Ames Selected Second Best Small City in America

Ames, Iowa was named the second best small city in America in a new book, The New Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities. Ames achieved the second highest grades in quality in ten areas- climate/environment, diversions, economics, education, community assets, health care, public safety, transportation, and urban proximity.

The last time the book was published, in 1990, Ames ranked number seven. This year, 189 cities in the US qualified for the book.

Here is a list of some of the key reasons why Ames received the high rating:

• Personal incomes are significantly higher than those in the typical small city. Personal incomes in Ames grew at four times the national average between 1990 and 1994.
   
• Ames received the second highest overall education score among US micropolitan areas. Educational levels in Ames dramatically surpass national averages. Fewer than two percent of young adults drop out of high school, the lowest rate among the other small cities and far below the national average.
   
• Total crime rates in Ames are nearly one-third below the national average. Violent crime is far rarer and the rate of juvenile arrest is one of the lowest in micropolitan America.
   
• Ames ranked fourth in transportation scores among small cities. Reasons for the high ranking include short commutes, popular public transit, and above median spending on roads.
   
• Ames is known for its health, stable economy and flourishing cultural environment.

The New Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities is a popular guide to living in America's "micropolitan areas" � those cities with 15,000 to 50,000 residents. The author, Kevin Heubusch, used the latest information from government statistics and independent sources to grade each community.

For more information on the quality of life, please go to city.ames.ia.us/houseingweb/economicdevp/quality%5Fof%5Flife.htm.