How much is rent in Ames?

In Ames, the average rent is $720+ for a studio, $913+ for a 1-bedroom, $950+ for a 2-bedroom, and $871+ for a 3-bedroom.* *Based on base prices that don’t include fees

How can I find a cheap apartment in Ames?

You can find the lowest-priced apartments in Ames by using the cheap apartments filter.

How can I find a pet-friendly apartment in Ames?

You can use the pet-friendly filter to find Ames apartments that allow pets.

How much should I pay for rent in Ames?

The answer to this question depends on your household income and a couple of other factors. You can use our Rent Calculator to figure out how much you should spend on rent in Ames.

How can I find off-campus housing in Ames?

You can use the off-campus housing filters to find apartments near colleges located in or around Ames. Some of the colleges and universities in the area include Iowa State University , Drake University , Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center , Grand View University , and Des Moines Area Community College .

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Apartments for Rent in Ames, IA

75 rentals available

312 Hayward
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312 Hayward Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 303-2081
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Amenities
On-site laundry, Parking, and Internet access
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Available Now: 2 Bedroom Duplex North Ames
$950
3015 Kellogg Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 361-5534
1 unit available
2 bed
Amenities
W/D hookup, Hardwood floors, Pet friendly, Garage, Range, and Refrigerator
Recently updated units
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Home in north-central Ames - AVAILABLE NOW
$1,050
2319 Clark Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 498-5765
1 unit available
2 bed
Amenities
In unit laundry, Range, and Refrigerator
Recently updated units
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514-520 Carroll Ave
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514 Carroll Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 379-8383
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Amenities
On-site laundry and Internet access
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Ames city guide
Everything you need to know
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Best market deals
These units are the best deal in town.
Student Housing - The Social West Ames Private Bedroom - Priced By Bed
4 Beds • 2 Baths • 1150 sqft
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Available
Aug 21
619 Duff Ave 1 Bed, 1 Bath, $715
1 Bed • 1 Bath
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Available
Aug 1
2117 Barr Dr 2117
1 Bed • 1 Bath • 700 sqft
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Now
209 Todd Circle 209 Todd Circle
2 Beds • 1 Bath • 768 sqft
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Now
1013 28th Street 1 Bed
1 Bed • 1 Bath
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Available
Aug 1
211-213 S Franklin Ave
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211 South Franklin Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 758-5865
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Amenities
Internet access
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234-236 S Dakota Ave
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234 South Dakota Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 526-5881
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Amenities
Internet access
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Polaris
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3212 Polaris Drive, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 585-3974
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Internet access
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3219 Roy Key Ave
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3219 Roy Key Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 498-5081
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Amenities
Internet access
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2810 Grand Ave
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2810 Grand Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 679-6306
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Amenities
On-site laundry, Cats allowed, Parking, Some paid utils, and Internet access
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420 S 4th St
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420 South 4th Street, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 789-3938
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Amenities
On-site laundry, Patio / balcony, Parking, and Internet access
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Luxury apartments
Top units for an elevated lifestyle.
Newly Built 6 Bedroom and 6 Bathroom House! 6 Beds, 6 Baths, $4320
6 Beds • 6 Baths • 3206 sqft
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Jan 21
2735 Danbury Rd 5 Bed
5 Beds • 3 Baths • 1684 sqft
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Aug 1
Great family home next door to Edwards Elementary in west Ames-4 bedroom 3 1/2 baths, 2 car garage, bonus sun room 4 Beds, 2.5 Baths, $2950
4 Beds • 2.5 Baths • 2500 sqft
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3503 Coy Street 4 Bed
4 Beds • 3 Baths • 1650 sqft
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Feb 1
2318 Storm Street 3 Bed
3 Beds • 3 Baths • 2100 sqft
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Aug 1
Delaware Woods
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1121 Delaware Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 375-0849
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Amenities
On-site laundry, Pet friendly, Garage, and Internet access
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3821 Tiverton Ct
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3821 Tiverton Ct., Ames, IA 50010
(515) 361-7649
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Amenities
In unit laundry, Garage, Gym, Some paid utils, and Internet access
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3810 Tiverton Ct
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3810 Tiverton Ct., Ames, IA 50010
(515) 602-4080
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Amenities
In unit laundry, Garage, Gym, Some paid utils, and Internet access
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1023-1029 6th St
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1023 6th Street, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 679-5446
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Amenities
In unit laundry, Parking, and Internet access
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2721 Luther Dr
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2721 Luther Drive, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 526-5320
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Amenities
Parking and Internet access
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2610 Northridge Pkwy
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2610 Northridge Parkway, Ames, IA 50010
(515) 498-5128
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In unit laundry, Parking, Gym, Pool, Clubhouse, and Internet access
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City Guide

The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in Ames is $913+, while the average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is $950+. Rent rates updated 2 days ago

Studio: $720+Trending down
1 Bed: $913+Trending down
2 Beds: $950+Trending down
3+ Beds: $871+Trending down

* Averages are based on the rental prices of properties listed on Apartment List that don’t include fees

Top neighborhoods in Ames

Ontario
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What it’s like to live in Ontario
ISU grad families snag duplexes circling Ontario Park's splash pad. Sparse transit forces 20-minute drives to campus labs, while student parties on Dunn Street test noise tolerance Thursday-Sunday nights.
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Families
Retirees
Professionals
Young Renters
Commuters
Neighborhood vibe
Mixed-Use
Peaceful
Mixed-Use & Commercial
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Bedrooms

1 Bedroom Apartments in Ames (20)

Price

Ames Cheap Apartments (27)

Amenities

Find an apartment for rent in Ames, IA

Searching for an apartment for rent in Ames, IA? Look no further! Apartment List will help you find a perfect apartment near you. There are 75 available rental units listed on Apartment List in Ames. Click on listings to see photos, floorplans, amenities, prices and availability, and much more!

The average rent in Ames is $720 for a studio, $913 for a one-bedroom apartment, and $950 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you are looking for a deal, keep an eye out for a red pulsing icon that indicates rent specials.

Tired of browsing? Take our personalized quiz. You’ll answer a couple of simple questions and we’ll put together a list of Ames apartments that are best for you. We’ll also factor in your commute, budget, and preferred amenities. Looking for a pet-friendly rental, or an apartment with in-unit washer and dryer? No problem, we’ll provide you with apartments that match that criteria.

You can trust Apartment List to help you find your next Ames, IA apartment rental! After all, everyone deserves a home they love.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In 2010, Ames was ranked as one of the top ten Best Places to Live on the CNNMoney list. Talk about _Ames-ing_for the top. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Ames is, above all else, a spirited and lively university town. This Midwest gem has students from all over the world attending their highly rated research programs and bringing culture and ideas from all over the globe with them. While this is a family-friendly city, the university tends to dictate a great deal of life here. While the population hovers around 60,000, it's impossible to know for certain at any given point what the realistic population of the city actually is when school is in session. This city has all of the amenities you'd expect from an urban environment, but it still feels largely like a couple of small towns -- the city itself and the university.

Moving to Ames

This is the Midwest, but it's also a major university city so be prepared to work hard for your new apartment. Make the transition easier by gathering a few references from your employer and past landlord just to be safe. Expect an application, credit check and proof of employment for every place you're seriously considering. Be sure to have a recent medical slip for any pets, as this is a city ordinance and most landlords require it anyway. Don't worry if your credit is less than perfect; as long as you have proof of income, you should be fine.

Remember the weather when making plans to relocate to Ames. It gets very cold and snowy here, and ice storms are not unusual. It's a great place to live, even in winter, but you don't necessarily want to try carrying your 60-inch flat screen down an icy path!

What It Will Cost

It's actually not as bad as you might think, but it largely depends on where you decide to live. The overall cost of living is very good, but the rentals near the university tend to go for a premium. If you are not a college student, you might want to consider living away from the university. It will save you a lot of money, and it's much quieter. All in all, expect to pay somewhere between a tickle and a moan for a nice place here.

Neighborhoods

There are a lot of them in Ames. In fact there are more than 40 neighborhood associations. However, most of the neighborhoods, associations aside, generally merge into each other and form larger distinct groups. As a result, there are essentially three major neighborhoods and one semi-major neighborhood. You'll find a mix of apartments, single-family homes and rent to own houses here.

Lincoln Way:This is where the established professionals, mostly university professors, doctors and lawyers, are living. The homes are older and the residents are stable, having lived here for at least the last five years. You can expect to find very few rentals here as they go quickly to visiting professors, executives and so forth. $$$$$

Campustown:Welcome to the heart of the university! If you are a student, this is the place to be. It's hip and trendy, and you can walk to almost everywhere you need. The rents here are not bad, but it's a lively area, and unless you are affiliated with the university, you might want to look elsewhere for something quieter and more relaxing. $$$$

Grand:This is a great neighborhood for the upwardly mobile young professional. There are a lot of families in this area, as well as quite a few retirees. There generally is no problem finding a great place here for a decent price.$$$

Downtown:This is the cultural and historic part of Ames. Here you will find business owners, professionals just starting out and a few graduate students who need some quiet to get their dissertations written! There is a pretty fair mix of owners and renters here and a fair number of vacancies. $$

Living in Ames

So you want to move to Ames and join the fun. Welcome to the community! There's almost always something going on, whether it's hosted by the city or the university. If you are bored here, it's because you haven't bothered to open your eyes. Please keep in mind that it does get cold and snowy in winter, but that's okay because then you can participate in winter sports and activities! It's hot and humid here in the summer, making it a great place for swimming, hiking and biking. Biking is big here. It's an economical way for university students to get around and even the rest of the population is in on it at this point. Next to bikes, the two most important things on the minds of locals are food and beer (not necessarily in that order).

Restaurants

If you can't find it in Ames, it probably doesn't exist. None of that changes the need for Chinese-Pizza-Mexican. These three cuisines are generally necessary for you to feel at home in your new city, and in Ames, you have a number of great options. To save you time, go to Vesuvius Wood Fired Pizza on Kellogg Street. If you are more into a college type environment, try the Pizza Pit on Welch. Both are great pizza places.

For Chinese food, Go to House of Chen or Chinese Home Style Cooking, which are both on Lincoln Way. The food is outstanding, the portions are huge and the prices are reasonable. It really doesn't get much better than that.

Visit the Fighting Burrito on Welch for great Mexican food. Not only are they open late, but they also deliver and as most college students know, a Burrito Grande cures hangovers.

You need at least one nice restaurant. If you are single, you need a place to go on dates. If you are married, you need a place for your anniversary. If you aren't interested, then you need a place to take mom on Mother's Day. That place in Ames is the Fuji Japanese Steakhouse on Kellogg. While everything is outstanding here, the Scallop Teriyaki is absolutely perfect. The food is only part of it; the rest is the show while they prepare the food, which is always a treat.

Nightlife

This one can be tough for adults who are no longer in college and not looking to par-tay, but are looking for a relaxing place to hang out with friends and have a few beers instead. One of the few choices near Campustown is Welch Avenue Station on Welch. It's a relaxing place where you can actually have a conversation with your friends that doesn't require screaming.

For the sports lover who lacks a big screen, Es Tas on Stanton is a great option. You can grab a few beers, watch the game and maybe shoot some pool in a cozy and relaxed environment.

Culture

There are two distinct cultures at work in Ames. The first is the local permanent population of citizens. This is a typical mix of Midwestern culture and values. The other is the university, with it's hodge-podge of attitudes, ideas and theories. It makes for a great local mix and keeps things lively. Don't expect to find a single dominant culture here because there isn't one. What there is in Ames is great tolerance and acceptance for differing views. That's more important anyway.

Beyond the general culture, there is also the Ames Historical Society, which preserves the history of Ames for future generations. If history is your passion, there is also the Brunnier Art Museum, which is always worth a tour.

One cultural aspect of Ames that is extremely popular is the Octagon Center for the Arts, which includes galleries, studios, classes and a retail shop. The center also sponsors the Octagon Arts Festival each year.

Business in Ames

To give you some idea of the scope of the University, it's the largest employer in Ames. That, in and of itself, is not surprising, but the numbers might be if you look at them. The university employs over 14,000 people. The next largest employer, Mary Greeley Medical Center employs 1,347. In fact, if you add up the numbers of the other nine employers on the list, they make up less than half the workforce of the university when combined. The city itself employs less than 1,000 workers.

Ames is an economic dynamo because it is business-friendly for both large and small businesses, and it also uses the University to attract new industry. Ames has adopted industry and business-friendly policies that make relocating or starting a business here a painless process.

Apartments for Rent in Ames, IA

312 Hayward

Available Now: 2 Bedroom Duplex North Ames

Home in north-central Ames - AVAILABLE NOW

514-520 Carroll Ave

211-213 S Franklin Ave

234-236 S Dakota Ave

Polaris

3219 Roy Key Ave

2810 Grand Ave

420 S 4th St

Delaware Woods

3821 Tiverton Ct

3810 Tiverton Ct

1023-1029 6th St

2721 Luther Dr

2610 Northridge Pkwy

Average rent in Ames, Iowa

Top neighborhoods in Ames

Ontario

What it’s like to live in Ontario

Great for

Neighborhood vibe

More Rental Options

Find an apartment for rent in Ames, IA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Living in Ames, IA

Ames Apartment Renter's Guide

Ames Apartment Renter's Guide

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