Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 5, 2026
Average rent in
Ames, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on August 5, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Ames, IA rent slipped 3.0% year over year, with a current median of $970/month. Renters today are paying $154 less per month on average than last year, with month-to-month rent essentially unchanged recently.
Compared to national trends
Ames sits 50.0% more affordable than the $1,940/month national median, making it an accessible market for renters despite its smaller inventory of 141 total rentals.
Price ranges
Apartments make up 65.6% of rentals in Ames, with a median rent of $970/month compared to $1,795/month for houses. Bedroom medians range from $650/month for studios to $1,298/month for 3-bedrooms, reflecting varied options for renters.
Neighborhood spotlight
South Ames Business rents fell 57.5% year over year to $785/month across 16 rentals, a much steeper decline than the citywide 3.0% drop. South Campus Area also cooled with a 41.8% decline to $640/month, showing localized softness amid broader market stability.
Median rent
Median rent in Ames
$970/mo
3%vs previous year
The average rent in Ames is $970 per month as of August 2026. This is 50% below the national average rent, or $970 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Ames
141
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Ames rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Ames, IA
Average rent prices in Ames have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 3% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Ames, IA
Rent prices in Ames vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Ames is $970, whereas a house costs $1,795. 1-bedroom apartments in Ames run $875 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $970.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $650 |  3% | 3% | |
1 bedroom | $875 | No Change | 32% | |
2 bedroom | $960 | 1% | 6% | |
3 bedroom | $1,297 | 3% | 24% | |
4 bedroom | $629 | 1% | 26% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Downtown Ames | $860 | |
Edwards | $865 | |
Ferndale Furman | $960 | |
Northeast | $850 | |
Oak Riverside | $892 | |
Sawyer West | $1,080 | |
Somer Street | $1,000 | |
South Campus Area | $639 | |
State Ave | $785 | |
Westside N A | $1,022 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $970 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $962 | 2% | 11% | |
Houses | $1,795 | 2% | No Change | |
Rooms | $549 | 3% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$650
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
3%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$875
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
32%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$960
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
6%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,297
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
24%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$629
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
26%
South Campus Area
Average rent
$639
Sawyer West
Average rent
$1,080
Edwards
Average rent
$865
Ferndale Furman
Average rent
$960
Somer Street
Average rent
$1,000
Westside N A
Average rent
$1,022
Downtown Ames
Average rent
$860
Oak Riverside
Average rent
$892
Northeast
Average rent
$850
State Ave
Average rent
$785
Apartments
Average rent
$970
Last 30 days
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$962
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
11%
Houses
Average rent
$1,795
Last 30 days
2%
Rooms
Average rent
$549
Last 30 days
3%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Ames, IA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Ames, IA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Ames and Ankeny by all bedroom counts and property types.
Ames
50%lower than the national median
25%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Ames, IA is 33% lower than the median rent in Ankeny, IA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
Cost of living in Ames, IA
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 3% lower |
| Groceries | 4% lower |
| Health | 5% higher |
| Housing | 12% lower |
| Transportation | 4% lower |
| Utilities | 5% lower |
Discover rentals in Ames, IA
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Ames
233 Sheldon Ave, Ames, IA 50014
1 bed
0 baths
$445
Apartment for rent
22h ago
122 Hayward Ave, Ames, IA 50014
4 beds
4 baths
$500–$2,000
Apartment for rent
16h ago
210 Gray Ave, Ames, IA 50014
4 beds
3 baths
$550
Apartment for rent
13h ago
412 Welch Ave, Ames, IA 50014
4 beds
4 baths
$650
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
South Ames Business townhouse for rent in Ames
561 W Crystal Loop, Ames, IA 50010
3 beds
3 baths
$2,600
House for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
House for rent in Ames
3 beds
3 baths
$2,460
House for rent
1d ago
Apartment for rent in Ames
2005 Aikman Dr, Ames, IA 50010
3 beds
2 baths
$2,400
Apartment for rent
3d ago
State Ave house for rent in Ames
House for rent
Available Aug 1
20m ago
4515 Todd Dr, Ames, IA 50014
2 beds
2 baths
$1,325–$1,400
Apartment for rent
1h ago
4301 Lincoln Swing, Ames, IA 50014
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$699–$975
Apartment for rent
13h ago
1209 N Dakota Ave, Ames, IA 50014
3 beds
2 baths
$999–$1,249
Apartment for rent
17h ago
312 Hayward Ave, Ames, IA 50014
1 bed
1 bath
$740
Apartment for rent
13h ago
Verified
2505 Jensen Ave, Ames, IA 50010
1–2 beds
1 bath
$680–$795
Apartment for rent
1h ago
4301 Lincoln Swing, Ames, IA 50014
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$699–$975
Apartment for rent
1h ago
1006 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010
2 beds
1 bath
$765
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
4112 Westbrook Dr, Ames, IA 50014
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$785–$945
Apartment for rent
1h ago
4301 Lincoln Swing, Ames, IA 50014
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$699–$975
Apartment for rent
13h ago
1209 N Dakota Ave, Ames, IA 50014
3 beds
2 baths
$999–$1,249
Apartment for rent
17h ago
312 Hayward Ave, Ames, IA 50014
1 bed
1 bath
$740
Apartment for rent
1d ago
246 Hyland Ave, Ames, IA 50014
3 beds
2 baths
$1,200
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for Ames, IA
Quick answers to common questions about the Ames rental market.
How much is rent in Ames?
The average rent in Ames is $970 per month as of August 1, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Ames?
Average rent prices in Ames have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 3% since last year.
How does Ames rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Ames is 50% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $970 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Ames?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Ames are South Campus Area ($639/mo), State Ave ($785/mo), and Northeast ($850/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Ames?
To comfortably afford rent in Ames, you'd need to earn approximately $39,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Ames?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in Ames average around $870/month and two-bedrooms approximately $1,030/month.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).