The median home in Ames, Iowa is valued at $264,793, up 2.9% year over year. Typical monthly rent is $1,134, producing a price-to-rent ratio of 19.5x — near the national average of 18x. Ames is part of the Ames, IA metropolitan area, which CrashWatch tracks daily with real-time stress scores and crash risk analysis.
See the full metro analysis: Ames, IA stress score, crash risk, and 12-month forecast →
Home Value$264,793
+2.9%
Rent$1,134/mo
AFFORDABILITYRenting $701/mo cheaper ($1,134 rent)6.50% 30yr, 20% down, county tax + IA ins. 28% per HUD.
Enter your income for Ames.
$52,959 on $264,793
Stretch — 29.4% of income
Above 28% but manageable with cuts.
PITI$1,835
P/I29.4%
Afford$253K
Gap-$12K
P&I $1,339Tax $346Ins $150
Home Buying Kit For Dummies (2025)Financing, negotiation, closing
Other cities in Iowa
Compare Ames with other housing markets across Iowa.
Full Ames, IA analysis
Stress scores, crash risk, early warning signals, and 12-month price forecasts for the Ames, IA metro.
View Ames, IA metro →