The Town FilesAmes, Texas
City in Liberty County · population 937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,600
- Household income
- $36,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 39.9
Ames is a city of 937 people in Liberty County, Texas. The median home is worth $203,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 86% of Texas towns, quieter than 73% of Texas towns, easier by car than 73% of Texas towns.
How Ames ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ames is worth $203,600, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $36,188, which is more affordable than 4% of Texas towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ames | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,600 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $741 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $36,188 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ames
| People | Ames | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Ames
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 41.2°F. About 62.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 101 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 14 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ames since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 12, 1961 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 25, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 5, 1974.
Severe weather in Liberty County since 1996
Liberty County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Liberty County
Liberty County had 20,119 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,677 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Ames itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Towns near Ames
- Liberty, TX3.1 mi · 8,279 people · home $175,300
- Hardin, TX7.2 mi · 768 people · home $110,200
- Kenefick, TX7.4 mi · 615 people · home $160,700
- Daisetta, TX7.5 mi · 923 people · home $118,500
- Hull, TX9.0 mi · 522 people · home —
- Dayton, TX12.1 mi · 8,777 people · home $227,600
- Old River-Winfree, TX12.9 mi · 1,315 people · home $124,700
- Mont Belvieu, TX15.8 mi · 7,654 people · home $411,000
Ames questions
Is Ames, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ames scores better for retirees than 14% of Texas towns and quieter than 73%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Ames?
The median owner-occupied home in Ames is valued at $203,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,188, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Ames?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 41.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 62.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Ames get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ames since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 12, 1961. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)