Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on June 20, 2026
Average rent in
Ames, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on June 20, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Ames, IA rent slipped 3.7% year over year, with a current median of $965/month. Renters are paying $119 less per month on average than last year, continuing a downward trend from the peak of $1,150/month in November 2025.
Compared to national trends
Ames sits roughly 50% more affordable than the $1,950/month national median, reflecting its position as a smaller market with fewer total rentals (173) and lower overall rent levels.
Price ranges
Studio rents in Ames run around $692/month, 1-bedrooms around $880/month, and 2-bedrooms around $978/month. Houses command a higher median at $1,800/month, while apartments sit near $970/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
Wilson Beardshear rents fell 51.5% year over year to $800/month, and Ross Road dropped 54.8% to $995/month. These declines contrast with the citywide 3.7% slip, showing localized softness in these neighborhoods.
Median rent
Median rent in Ames
$965/mo
4%vs previous year
The average rent in Ames is $965 per month as of June 2026. This is 51% below the national average rent, or $985 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Ames
173
for rent on Zumper.com as of June 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Ames rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Ames, IA
Average rent prices in Ames have decreased by 4% over the last month and have decreased by 4% 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 $1,800. 1-bedroom apartments in Ames run $879 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $995.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $692 | 6% | 4% | |
1 bedroom | $880 | No Change |  11% | |
2 bedroom | $977 | 2% | 3% | |
3 bedroom | $1,150 | 5% | 21% | |
4 bedroom | $650 | 14% | 37% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Edwards | $875 | |
Ferndale Furman | $907 | |
Meeker North | $945 | |
Oak Riverside | $569 | |
Ontario | $970 | |
Prairie View | $940 | |
Sawyer West | $1,100 | |
Somer Street | $982 | |
South Campus Area | $699 | |
Westside N A | $900 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $970 | 2% | No Change | |
Condos | $980 | 1% | No Change | |
Houses | $1,800 | 4% | No Change | |
Rooms | $574 | 1% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$692
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
4%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$880
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
11%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$977
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
3%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,150
Last 30 days
5%
Last year
21%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$650
Last 30 days
14%
Last year
37%
South Campus Area
Average rent
$699
Sawyer West
Average rent
$1,100
Edwards
Average rent
$875
Somer Street
Average rent
$982
Westside N A
Average rent
$900
Ferndale Furman
Average rent
$907
Prairie View
Average rent
$940
Meeker North
Average rent
$945
Oak Riverside
Average rent
$569
Ontario
Average rent
$970
Apartments
Average rent
$970
Last 30 days
2%
Condos
Average rent
$980
Last 30 days
1%
Houses
Average rent
$1,800
Last 30 days
4%
Rooms
Average rent
$574
Last 30 days
1%
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
51%lower than the national median
29%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Ames, IA is 30% 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
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Ames
114 7th St #2, Ames, IA 50010
1 bed
1.5 baths
$450
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 2
4d ago
210 Gray Ave, Ames, IA 50014
4 beds
3 baths
$550
Apartment for rent
2d ago
122 Hayward Ave, Ames, IA 50014
2–4 beds
2–4 baths
$599–$2,900
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 Jun 1
3d ago
House for rent in Ames
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,500
House for rent
3d ago
House for rent in Ames
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,500
House for rent
5d+ ago
State Ave house for rent in Ames
House for rent
Available Aug 1
1d ago
1428 Walton Dr, Ames, IA 50014
1 bed
1 bath
$1,015
Apartment for rent
2d ago
4619 Todd Dr, Ames, IA 50014
2 beds
2 baths
$1,395
Apartment for rent
2d ago
4536 Twain Cir, Ames, IA 50014
4 beds
2 baths
$1,600
Apartment for rent
3d ago
House for rent in Ames
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,500
House for rent
1d ago
4112 Westbrook Dr, Ames, IA 50014
2 beds
1 bath
$900–$970
Apartment for rent
3d ago
4301 Lincoln Swing, Ames, IA 50014
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$699–$1,029
Apartment for rent
1d ago
3502 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014
1 bed
1 bath
$715–$790
Apartment for rent
3d ago
1218 Delaware Ave, Ames, IA 50014
2 beds
1 bath
$870
Apartment for rent
1d ago
4112 Westbrook Dr, Ames, IA 50014
2 beds
1 bath
$900–$970
Apartment for rent
2d ago
4815 Todd Dr, Ames, IA 50014
2 beds
1 bath
$895
Apartment for rent
3d ago
4301 Lincoln Swing, Ames, IA 50014
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$699–$1,029
Apartment for rent
3d ago
1209 N Dakota Ave, Ames, IA 50014
3 beds
2 baths
$999–$1,249
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 $965 per month as of June 20, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Ames?
Average rent prices in Ames have decreased by 4% over the last month and have decreased by 4% since last year.
How does Ames rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Ames is 51% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $985 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Ames?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Ames are Oak Riverside ($569/mo), South Campus Area ($699/mo), and Edwards ($875/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?
Ames rental market in 2025 shows one-bedroom apartments averaging around $830 per month, while two-bedroom units average around $1,000 per month. Two-bedroom apartments make up the largest share of available rentals at 40% of the market, providing renters with good selection in this price range.
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).