1st Advantage MortgageStory County households have a median income of $69,685 and median rent of $1,018 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Story County
- How much Story County households make
- What it costs to live in Story County
- The Story County job picture
- The communities that make up Story County
- How Story County compares with nearby counties
- A Story County household budget, worked through
- More Story County figures
- What the numbers mean for Story County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Iowa rules that apply in Story County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Story County
Roughly 100,466 residents live in Story County, Iowa, 8th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 573 square miles, that is close to 175 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Ames, IA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Ames is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 67,669 people (67% of the county total).
How much Story County households make
At $69,685, the typical Story County household income is 6% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Story County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.5% | +0.9 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.2%, 7 points higher than the state's 11.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.469 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $69,685 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Story County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,018 in Story County versus $972 statewide. By the Census definition, 49% of Story County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $258,700, a typical Story County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 56%. Median construction year: 1984.
| Story County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,018/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $258,700 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 56% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 8% | n/a |
The Story County job picture
By the Census industry count, 35% of employed Story County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 35% locally and 24% for Iowa. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 68% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Story County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 35.2% | +11.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% | -5.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.1% | -2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Story County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Story County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 91,136 residents, leaving about 9% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $122,656 at the median in Gilbert, $57,333 in Cambridge. Median rent ranges from $650 in Maxwell to $1,393 in Huxley. No Story County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | city | 67,669 | $60,991 | $1,023 | 8 mi |
| Nevada | city | 6,983 | $75,094 | $953 | 1 mi |
| Huxley | city | 4,544 | $112,094 | $1,393 | 12 mi |
| Story City | city | 3,398 | $96,605 | $999 | 12 mi |
| Roland | city | 1,559 | $79,028 | $1,375 | 9 mi |
| Slater | city | 1,401 | $97,500 | $895 | 16 mi |
| Gilbert | city | 1,381 | $122,656 | $865 | 10 mi |
| Maxwell | city | 905 | $97,639 | $650 | 11 mi |
| Cambridge | city | 803 | $57,333 | $1,043 | 10 mi |
| Colo | city | 686 | $64,000 | $950 | 8 mi |
| Zearing | city | 566 | $74,167 | $883 | 12 mi |
| Collins | city | 533 | $67,500 | $862 | 12 mi |
| Kelley | city | 382 | $111,250 | $966 | 12 mi |
| McCallsburg | city | 326 | $65,000 | $676 | 10 mi |
How Story County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 32 miles). Income ranges from $65,069 in Hardin County to $83,576 in Polk County; 5 of these neighbors top Story County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story County | - | $69,685 | $1,018/mo | 56% |
| Boone County, IA | 24 mi | $83,531 | $845/mo | 80% |
| Marshall County, IA | 25 mi | $73,315 | $885/mo | 75% |
| Polk County, IA | 25 mi | $83,576 | $1,149/mo | 67% |
| Hardin County, IA | 27 mi | $65,069 | $795/mo | 74% |
| Hamilton County, IA | 27 mi | $72,432 | $877/mo | 73% |
| Jasper County, IA | 32 mi | $71,311 | $836/mo | 72% |
A Story County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Story County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,807 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,018, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,014 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,613 total minus rent leaves $1,595
If your rent is above $1,018, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Story County figures
College graduates make up 55% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.2%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| People and households | Story County | Iowa | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.9 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 54.8% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.6% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
What the numbers mean for Story County borrowers
What the Story County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Free help first. 18% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Story County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Before you sign
Quick steps for Story County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Iowa rules that apply in Story County
Consumer lenders serving Story County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Iowa that is the Iowa Division of Banking. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Story County household make?
About $69,685 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% below the Iowa median.
How does Story County rent compare with Iowa?
$1,018 locally versus $972 for the state, 5% above.
Which towns does the Story County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 14 Census places: Ames, Nevada, Huxley, Story City, Roland.
Can Story County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Iowa county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Story County?
Start with the Iowa Division of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.