Story County, IA Average Home Price (2026)
The average home price in Story County, Iowa is about $286,000 (the 2026 median across 13 ZIP codes, at ~$216/sq ft) — 38% more expensive than the Iowa median and 1% more affordable than the typical U.S. home.
How Story County compares
Story County is about average for housing nationally: its typical home costs $286,000 against $207,500 for Iowa and $289,000 for the U.S. Within the county, ZIP-level values run from about $238,000 to $349,000.
| Area | Typical value | $ / sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Story County | $286,000 | $216 |
| Iowa | $207,500 | $133 |
| United States | $289,000 | $193 |
Story County home prices by ZIP code
The 13 most valuable ZIP codes in Story County (of 13 with data):
| ZIP code | Typical value | $ / sq ft | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50134 Kelley | $349,000 | $330 | +22% |
| 50124 Huxley | $344,000 | $306 | +20% |
| 50105 Gilbert | $339,000 | $280 | +19% |
| 50046 Cambridge | $331,000 | $154 | +16% |
| 50014 Ames | $313,000 | $255 | +9% |
| 50010 Ames | $294,000 | $216 | +3% |
| 50248 Story City | $286,000 | $227 | +0% |
| 50055 Collins | $273,000 | $175 | -5% |
| 50278 Zearing | $263,000 | $177 | -8% |
| 50236 Roland | $259,000 | $232 | -9% |
| 50056 Colo | $258,000 | $147 | -10% |
| 50201 Nevada | $247,000 | $189 | -14% |
| 50154 McCallsburg | $238,000 | $144 | -17% |
Home value appreciation in Story County
Home prices in Story County have risen about 64% over the last 10 years (≈5.0% a year) and +85.1% over 20 years, according to the FHFA house price index through 2025. The most recent year came in at +2.9% — still rising. A home worth $286,000 today was worth roughly $174,817 ten years ago.
See where that trend takes a specific home with the home appreciation calculator — statewide, Iowa is +65.4% over the same 10 years. Past appreciation is a track record, not a forecast; local prices can fall.
Calculators for Story County
Run the numbers for Story County with the local rates already filled in — change any input to test your own situation.
Salary needed to buy a home in Story County
To buy the typical $286,000 home in Story County with 20% down, you need a household income of roughly $78,000 a year (about $1,820 a month for the mortgage, taxes, and insurance). With 10% down the bar rises to about $92,000, because the loan is bigger and mortgage insurance kicks in.
| Down payment | Cash down | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% (+PMI) | $14,300 | $2,260/mo | $97,000/yr |
| 10% (+PMI) | $28,600 | $2,160/mo | $92,000/yr |
| 20% | $57,200 | $1,820/mo | $78,000/yr |
Assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.5%, property tax at 1.1% and insurance at 0.45% of value per year, PMI of 0.75% on loans with less than 20% down, and the standard 28% housing-to-income rule. Your rate, taxes, and HOA will move these — run your own numbers in the mortgage calculator.
What your budget buys in Story County
At about $216 per square foot, here is roughly how much home different budgets get you in Story County:
| Budget | Approx. size | What that looks like locally |
|---|---|---|
| $150k | 690 sq ft | below the local median — condos, smaller or older homes |
| $200k | 930 sq ft | below the local median — condos, smaller or older homes |
| $250k | 1160 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $300k | 1390 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $400k | 1850 sq ft | above the median — larger homes or the pricier ZIPs |
Wondering where that budget goes further? The relocation calculator ranks hundreds of U.S. cities by what the same money buys — it opens filtered to Iowa.
Estimate a specific home in Story County
Enter your ZIP and size for an instant estimate tailored to your exact area:
Story County home prices: frequently asked
What is the average home price in Story County, IA? +
What salary do you need to buy a house in Story County? +
Which part of Story County is most expensive? +
Are home values in Story County going up? +
Browse all Iowa cities and counties, or look up price per square foot by ZIP code nationwide.
Directional estimates from public market data (Realtor.com & Zillow research; FHFA house price index; Census ZIP-to-county relationships), not appraisals.