What kinds of homes are in Ames, IA?

Name: Types of homes in Ames, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Ames, IA has 28,041 (±369) homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is about 994 homes per square mile of land.

38.2% are detached single-family houses.

7.9% are in buildings of two to four units.

44.5% are in buildings of five or more units.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Housing units: 28,041 (±369)
Detached houses: 38.2%
2–4 unit buildings: 7.9%
5+ unit buildings: 44.5%

Homes in Ames by building size

Housing units by units in structure, 2020–2024
Building type	Ames	Story County	Iowa	United States
Single-family, detached	38.2% (±1.8 points)	51.5%	72.2%	61.3%
Single-family, attached (townhouse, rowhouse)	6.5% (±1.2 points)	5.2%	4.5%	6.2%
2 units	3.3% (±0.9 points)	3.3%	2.1%	3.4%
3 or 4 units	4.6% (±0.8 points)	3.9%	3.5%	4.3%
5 to 9 units	6.8% (±1.3 points)	5.5%	3.6%	4.5%
10 to 19 units	15.8% (±2.1 points)	11.0%	4.0%	4.3%
20 or more units	21.9% (±2.0 points)	15.5%	6.9%	10.3%
Mobile home	3.0% (±0.7 points)	3.9%	3.2%	5.6%
Boat, RV, van, etc.	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%

In Ames, the share of homes in buildings of five or more units is higher than in Story County (32.0%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (14.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (19.1%).

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units in places near Ames

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Ames
Place	Distance	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units	Compared with this place
Ames	—	44.5% (±3.2 points)	—
Gilbert	5.7 mi	2.3% (±6.5 points)	Lower
Kelley	5.7 mi	1.2% (±19.5 points)	Lower
Nevada	7.8 mi	16.1% (±5.1 points)	Lower
Huxley	9.1 mi	7.4% (±4.1 points)	Lower
Cambridge	9.6 mi	3.9% (±10.7 points)	Lower
Slater	11 mi	2.3% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Luther	11 mi	0.0% (±54.7 points)	Not measurably different
Story City	11 mi	14.2% (±8.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Gilbert, IA (2.3%), Kelley, IA (1.2%), Nevada, IA (16.1%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units across Story County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units
1	Ames	44.5% (±3.2 points)
2	Nevada	16.1% (±5.1 points)
3	Story City	14.2% (±8.2 points)
4	McCallsburg	13.9% (±25.5 points)
5	Huxley	7.4% (±4.1 points)
6	Collins	6.9% (±12.4 points)
7	Maxwell	4.9% (±7.1 points)

Showing 7 of 15 places in Story County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Ames

How many homes are in Ames?

Ames, IA has an estimated 28,041 (±369) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Are most homes in Ames houses or apartments?

38.2% are detached houses and 6.5% attached houses, while 52.4% are in buildings of two or more units.

How many two-family and small multifamily homes are in Ames?

7.9% of homes in Ames are in buildings of two to four units, the small rental buildings that are often owner-occupied.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ames city, Iowa

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Ames city, Iowa (place:01855, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0007PE, DP04_0007PM, DP04_0008PE, DP04_0008PM, DP04_0009PE, DP04_0009PM, DP04_0010PE, DP04_0010PM, DP04_0011PE, DP04_0011PM, DP04_0012PE, DP04_0012PM, DP04_0013PE, DP04_0013PM, DP04_0014PE, DP04_0014PM, DP04_0015PE, DP04_0015PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.