Ames
Iowa · Ranked #93 of 373 metros
86Affordable
💡
Housing in Ames costs 3.42× the median income, below the national average of 4.5×. The median home price is $246K and median rent is $981/month. Ames ranks #93 of 373 metros for affordability.
Median Home Price
🏠$246K
Need $73K income
Median Rent
🔑$981
Need $39K income
Building Permits
🔨273
annual
Median Income
💰$72K
Pop: 126,404
Rent Burden
⚠️23.9%
of renters paying >30%
Homeownership
🏡62.0%
Rent Burden
vs. National Average
Key Facts vs. National Average
| Metric | Ames | National |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 3.42x | 6.1x |
| Rent Burden | 23.9% | 31.5% |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 65.5% |
| YoY Rent Change | 0% | +2.8% |
| Mortgage Denial Rate | 0.0% | 13.5% |
| Eviction Rate | 0.0% | 3.6% |
House Price Index (2000–2025)
FHFA All-Transactions HPI
Since 2019: +47.5%Since 2000: +139.8%
HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026)
Section 8 voucher payment standards
Studio$972/mo
1 Bedroom$1,026/mo
2 Bedroom$1,153/mo
3 Bedroom$1,601/mo
4 Bedroom$1,934/mo
Zillow Market Data
Home Value (ZHVI)
$258K
1yr: +3.1%5yr: +27.7%
Rent (ZORI)
$1,047/mo
1yr: +3.9%5yr: +20.8%
Note: ZORI reflects current listing prices and may differ from the Census ACS median rent shown above, which captures what renters actually pay including below-market and subsidized units.
Redfin Market Activity
Median Sale Price
$320K
Active Inventory
228
Days on Market
51
Sold Above List
17.3%
Price Drops
30.3%