What is the rental vacancy rate in Ames, IA?
The rental vacancy rate in Ames, IA is 6.7% (±2.3 points) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
The homeowner vacancy rate is 1.3% (±1.0 points).
2,256 (±426) homes, 8.0% of all housing units, were vacant, a count that includes seasonal homes and homes being sold or rented.
In Ames, the rental vacancy rate went from 3.5% in 2015–2019 to 6.7% in 2020–2024 (+3.2 percentage points), a measurable increase.
Figures last updated on .
- Rental vacancy rate
- 6.7% (±2.3 points)
- Homeowner vacancy rate
- 1.3% (±1.0 points)
- Vacant homes
- 2,256 (±426)
Vacancy in Ames against Story County, its state and the nation
| Ames | Story County | Iowa | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.7% (±2.3 points) | 6.6% (±2.0 points) | 5.7% (±0.3 points) | 5.5% |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% (±1.0 points) | 0.9% (±0.5 points) | 0.8% (±0.1 points) | 0.9% |
| Vacant housing units | 2,256 (±426) | 2,983 (±488) | 121,992 (±3,789) | 14,547,859 |
The rental vacancy rate is the share of rental homes that are vacant and for rent; it leaves out homes already rented but not yet moved into, and seasonal homes.
In Ames, the rental vacancy rate is not measurably different from Story County (6.6%).
It is not measurably different from Iowa (5.7%).
It is not measurably different from the national figure (5.5%).
Rental vacancy rate in places near Ames
| Place | Distance | Rental vacancy rate | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | — | 6.7% (±2.3 points) | — |
| Gilbert | 5.7 mi | 0.0% (±28.3 points) | Not measurably different |
| Kelley | 5.7 mi | 2.3% (±4.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| Nevada | 7.8 mi | 3.2% (±5.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| Huxley | 9.1 mi | 0.0% (±8.1 points) | Not measurably different |
| Cambridge | 9.6 mi | 13.8% (±19.6 points) | Not measurably different |
| Slater | 11 mi | 0.0% (±23.1 points) | Not measurably different |
| Luther | 11 mi | 0.0% (±100.0 points) | Not measurably different |
| Story City | 11 mi | 15.9% (±21.4 points) | Not measurably different |
None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Rental vacancy rate across Story County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Rental vacancy rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheldahl | 43.8% (±47.2 points) |
| 2 | Collins | 22.4% (±25.4 points) |
| 3 | Roland | 16.2% (±24.9 points) |
| 4 | Story City | 15.9% (±21.4 points) |
| 5 | Cambridge | 13.8% (±19.6 points) |
| 6 | Ames | 6.7% (±2.3 points) |
| 7 | Nevada | 3.2% (±5.2 points) |
| 8 | Kelley | 2.3% (±4.2 points) |
| 9 (tie) | Colo | 0.0% (±35.0 points) |
| 9 (tie) | Gilbert | 0.0% (±28.3 points) |
| 9 (tie) | Huxley | 0.0% (±8.1 points) |
| 9 (tie) | McCallsburg | 0.0% (±37.5 points) |
Showing 12 of 15 places in Story County, ranked from highest to lowest.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Ames
Is it hard to find a rental in Ames?
The rental vacancy rate in Ames, IA is 6.7% (±2.3 points); a low rate means few rental homes stand empty and for rent at any time, which usually means more competition for each one.
Is the rental market in Ames tighter than it was?
In Ames, the rental vacancy rate went from 3.5% in 2015–2019 to 6.7% in 2020–2024 (+3.2 percentage points), a measurable increase.
How many homes are vacant in Ames?
An estimated 2,256 (±426) housing units, 8.0% of the total, including seasonal homes and homes waiting to be sold or rented.
Sources
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Ames city, Iowa
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2015–2019 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 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M, DP04_0004E, DP04_0004M, DP04_0003E, DP04_0003M, DP04_0003PE, DP04_0003PM
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.
Figures last updated on .
Related
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- Crime reported to police in Ames
- Population growth in Ames
- How long people stay in Ames
- Crowding and facilities in Ames
- Iowa landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Story County
- Iowa places ranked by rental vacancy rate
- Housing data for every place in Iowa