Ames housing market
Typical home value
$277K
▲ 2.6% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,162/mo
▲ 2.7% 1 yr
12-month forecast
+2.2%
#245 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
5.0%
#404 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Days to pending
50 days
▼ −3 days 1 yr
Listings with a price cut
30%
▲ +4.5 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $277,302, up 2.6% in a year and up 22% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values rising 2.2% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,162/mo (+2.7% YoY), a 5.0% gross yield, below the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $1,524/mo in principal and interest, $362 more than renting.
- 5Homes go under contract in 50 days (−3 days vs last year); 30% of listings have had a price cut.
Market temperature
Buyer's market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 30/100, #442 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
How fast homes are selling
For saleNew listings
Affordability
To buy (20% down)To rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Ames compares
| Measure | Ames | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +2.6% | +1.2% | #242 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | +22.0% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | +2.2% | +1.1% | #245 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +2.7% | +2.7% | #336 |
| Gross rent yield | 5.0% | 6.3% | #404 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 19.9 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $1,524 | $2,012 | |
| Income needed to buy | $81,019 | $100,902 | |
| Days to pending | 50 | 56 |
Cities in the Ames metro
1 cities with home value and rent data.
| Ames | $302K | ▲ 2.6% | $1,240 | ▲ 1.7% | 4.9% |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Ames rental ($277K, $1,162/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Ames home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ames?
Other Iowa metros
Des Moines, IA
$293K home$1,280 rent5.3% yield
▲ 0.5% 1 yr
Cedar Rapids, IA
$247K home$1,226 rent6.0% yield
▲ 3.9% 1 yr
Iowa City, IA
$300K home$1,757 rent7.0% yield
▲ 3.0% 1 yr
Waterloo, IA
$198K home$1,023 rent6.2% yield
▲ 0.9% 1 yr
Sioux City, IA
$224K home$1,295 rent6.9% yield
▲ 3.4% 1 yr
Dubuque, IA
$277K home$1,063 rent4.6% yield
▲ 4.3% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.