Ames, IA · Iowa
Story County
98,592 residents205 permits TTM$69,006 median HHI15 ZIP codesUpdated April 28, 2026
Investor first look
Median home value
$243,600
ACS 5-Year
Cap rate proxy
5.0%
FMR × 0.65 ÷ Home Value
Rent-to-income
17.7%
HUD FMR ÷ ACS HHI
Net migration
+1.50%
IRS SOI
Permits (TTM)
205
Census BPS
Climate risk
68.8
FEMA NRI (0–100)
ZIP code breakdown15 ZIP codes
| ZIP | Median home value | Rent (FMR 2BR) | Gross yield | Cap rate | Rent gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50201 | — | — | — | 5.1% | — |
| 50154 | — | — | — | 5.0% | — |
| 50012 | — | — | — | 5.0% | — |
| 50013 | — | — | — | 5.0% | — |
| 50278 | — | — | — | 5.0% | — |
Ranked by composite score
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Demographics
Owner-occupied
56.0%
Census ACS
Vacancy rate
7.0%
Census ACS
Bachelor's degree +
53.3%
Census ACS
Rent burdened
48.4%
Census ACS (>30% income)
Median age
27.0
Census ACS
U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
U.S. Census Bureau — Building Permits Survey
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Fair Market Rents / Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR)
Internal Revenue Service — Statistics of Income Migration Data
FEMA — National Risk Index
Last updated: April 28, 2026