Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Ames, IA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Ames, IA metro area's all-transactions index changed +5.6% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +3.2% for Iowa and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 78th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +5.6%
- 5-year change
- +37.4%
- Since Q1 1995
- +225%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 78th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Ames, IA vs Iowa and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Ames, IA: 324.8
- Iowa: 312.1
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | IA | U.S. | Gap vs IA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +5.6% | +3.2% | +3.0% | +2.4 pts | +2.6 pts |
| 3 years | +13.0% | +13.1% | +12.9% | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts |
| 5 years | +37.4% | +37.4% | +41.3% | −0.0 pts | −3.9 pts |
| 10 years | +69.5% | +70.6% | +93.3% | −1.1 pts | −23.8 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +225% | +212% | +292% | +12.7 pts | −66.8 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Ames, IA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 · Ames, IA area | IA | +2.4% | +34.1% | +197% | 37% |
| 502 · West Des Moines, IA area | IA | +1.8% | +38.0% | +209% | 10% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Ames, IA area
Ames, IA area's index peaked in Q1 2008, fell 4.3% to its low in Q2 2011, and regained its peak in Q3 2013, about 5.5 years after the top. Today it sits +91.7% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2008 | Q2 2011 | -4.3% | Q3 2013 (5.5 yrs) | +91.7% |
| IA | Q1 2009 | Q2 2011 | -2.5% | Q4 2012 (3.8 yrs) | +86.4% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Ames, IA area's index has changed +46.7% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | IA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | +1.6% | -0.6% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +2.9% | +3.0% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +10.8% | +10.8% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +21.9% | +22.7% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +46.7% | +40.9% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Ames, IA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +219% | $956,924 |
| Q2 2000 | +151% | $753,841 |
| Q2 2005 | +104% | $612,176 |
| Q2 2010 | +94.7% | $584,207 |
| Q2 2015 | +77.4% | $532,077 |
| Q2 2020 | +49.5% | $448,467 |
| Q2 2021 | +37.4% | $412,297 |
| Q2 2023 | +13.0% | $339,042 |
| Q2 2025 | +5.6% | $316,735 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Ames, IA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Ames, IA metro area shows changes of +5.6% over one year, +37.4% over five years, and +69.5% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +225% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Ames, IA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +2.6 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is −3.9 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.