Cost of living in the Ames Metro Area
2 counties across IA. Population: 125,261.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Ames Metro Area
Average rent across the Ames metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Ames Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 2 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Ames Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Ames Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 2 counties in the Ames Metro Area
The Ames metro area includes 2 counties. Sorted by population.
- Story County IA$2,694/moPop98,592 Rent$951/mo Income$69,006/yrStory County IA 98,592 $951/mo $69,006/yr $2,694/mo
- Boone County IA$2,856/moPop26,669 Rent$719/mo Income$79,741/yrBoone County IA 26,669 $719/mo $79,741/yr $2,856/mo
Compare counties in the Ames Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Ames Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Ames Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Ames metro area is approximately $2,728 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 2 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Ames Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Ames metro area is $902 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Ames Metro Area?
Story County, IA is the most affordable county in the Ames metro area at approximately $2,694 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Ames Metro Area?
Boone County, IA is the most expensive county in the Ames metro area at approximately $2,856 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Ames Metro Area?
The Ames metro area covers 2 counties. The five largest by population are Story County, Boone County.
Use this research
Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to cite and share this analysis. Please include a follow link back to this page when referencing our data. For bespoke analysis, expert comment, or high-resolution graphics, get in touch via our press office.
About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.