Rent to own Homes in Ames, IA

Buying a Home in Ames, IA

Ames, IA is seeing rapid growth and Ames, IA's' housing market remains optimal with an average home price that is -2% below the 2025 national average. Ames, IA is part of Story county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2025 for county Story is 1.33% which is above the national average, which is 0.99%.

Top 14 Reasons to Live in Ames

Lots of Museums! Ames is proud of its history and has museums and attractions dedicated to it. The Ames Historical Society presents exhibits and artifacts related to local and national history. The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum offers train rides around the area as well as information about the history of the railroad in Ames.

Local Produce! The Main Street Farmers Market is open every Saturday during the spring and summer months and Black's Heritage Farms offers local events as well as the opportunity to pick local produce.

Music Lovers Unite! The Central Iowa Symphony offers local musicians the opportunity to play with professionals in live concerts and the Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association brings internationally acclaimed musicians to play small, intimate chamber music concerts.

Unique Opportunities! Aspiring artists may want to check out Creative Spirits Ames, a local artists' group that guides people who want to paint. Those who appreciate others' art may want to buy unique hand-blown glass pieces from Ciccotti Art Glass.

Museums and More! The Christian Petersen Art Museum, named after an artist in residence who used to teach at the university, features contemporary art works by a variety of artists. If you are more into history, the Farm House Museum pays homage to the farmers who worked the land before the university was built and the early university heads who lived in the farm house.

Dance, Dance, Dance! The Iowa Youth Ballet offers special performances and events for young talented dancers; aspiring dancers of all ages can take workshops and classes as well as attending performances at the Co'Motion Dance Theatre.

Plenty of rentals! 54% of Ames residents rent their homes. The median rental price in Ames is $635. Look to Downtown Ames and Melrose Park for some of these stellar rental options.

Going green! Ames understands the importance of nature and conservation. Reiman Gardens features live butterfly conservatories as well as 14 acres of preserved land outdoors. Tree, shrub and flower lovers can see hundreds of live plants at the Iowa Arboretum.

Low home costs! Homeowners in Ames pay a median price of approximately $119,000 for their homes. Finding homes for sale or rent to own homes in Little Hollywood or off of Main Street means you're right in the center of all the action!

Culture galore! Ames hosts plenty of cultural events throughout the year. The Main Street Cultural District hosts many of these events, including the annual 4th of July Parade and Oktoberfest. Ames also hosts the Maximum Music Festival every fall, which features acts in multiple venues across the state of Iowa; local musicians and musicians from around the nation and world are featured.

Rent or rent to own! Ames residents can save money by living in a rent to own home and putting their rent towards a down payment on the home they live in. Check out the areas of Suncrest or Somerset for great deals on new rent to own houses!

Low Cost Of Living! The cost of living in Ames is 93.8, less than average in America. This means you can hole up in nice neighborhoods in Ames, like Dayton Park and Country Gables.

Neighborhood Regulations Ames keeps neighborhoods quiet and safe with a variety of regulations about noise and parties. East Hickory Park and Gateway Green HIlls are two particularly peaceful 'hoods.