Story County, Iowa home prices
Typical home $292,064 · +2.7% in a year · property tax 1.4%
The typical home in Story County is worth $292,064, 23% more than the Iowa typical home ($236,623). Values changed +2.7% in the past year and +20.2% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 1.4% of their home's value in property tax each year ($4,100 on the typical home), versus 1.27% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical Story County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $58,413 | $233,651 | $1,572 | $0 | $488 | $2,060 | $88,300 |
| 10% down | $29,206 | $262,858 | $1,768 | $110 | $488 | $2,366 | $101,400 |
| 5% down | $14,603 | $277,461 | $1,866 | $116 | $488 | $2,470 | $105,900 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $10,222 | $286,774 | $1,929 | $129 | $488 | $2,546 | $109,100 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 1.4% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in Iowa · part of the Ames metro area.
Iowa counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth County | $292,290 | +5.5% | 1.07% |
| Clayton County | $287,556 | +13.2% | 1.29% |
| Benton County | $282,938 | +9.5% | 1.31% |
| Mills County | $280,495 | +3.2% | 1.47% |
| Polk County | $279,097 | +0.2% | 1.68% |
| Dubuque County | $277,182 | +4.3% | 1.23% |
| Sioux County | $308,457 | +3.6% | 1.12% |
| Johnson County | $309,187 | +2.8% | 1.52% |
| Guthrie County | $273,068 | +5.7% | 1.22% |
| Marion County | $271,088 | +2.9% | 1.22% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in Story County, IA?
The typical home value in Story County is $292,064 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Story County?
About $88,300 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in Story County?
The median effective rate is 1.4% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).