This will come as no surprise to residents of Ames, but the city has been named one of the 10 Best College Towns in the nation.
Livability.com looked at affordability, diversity, education, jobs, income, and a sense of community, as well as an abundance of fun things to do.
Ames comes in at number 2 on the list right behind Ithaca, New York, home of Cornell University.
What the article says about Ames:
Why It's a Great Place to Go to College: Ames is home to Iowa State University, a beautiful 1,900-acre campus that serves more than 36,000 students. In 1862, the university became the nation’s first land-grant institution, a new federal initiative that sought to make higher education easily accessible, practical and open to everyone. You’ll find that same spirit remains at Iowa State University today, where students and faculty lead in science, technology, agriculture and veterinary medicine.
Why It's a Great Place to Live (Even If You're Not a Student): Ames is not only ridiculously charming; it has a little something for everyone. There’s the Octagon Center for the Arts, a downtown community art center that hosts classes, workshops, exhibits and events. There are 55 miles of bike trails, 36 parks and tons of athletic facilities and local sports groups, including tennis, golf, swimming and running. For music-lovers, there’s the Central Iowa Symphony and for plant-lovers, there’s the Iowa Arboretum. Plus, Ames’ downtown is listed on the National Register of Historical Places and has tons of cute, locally owned shops and restaurants, earning it a spot on our 2018 Top 100 Best Places to Live list.