RANK #649 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 11 IA · POP 100,466
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Story County, Iowa, stands out as the home of Iowa State University in Ames, its largest city, which contributes to a dynamic local culture. Located in central Iowa, the county seat is Nevada. Story County is approximately 30-60 miles from Des Moines, with major highways like Interstate 35 and U.S. Highways 30, 65, and 69 providing transportation options. The landscape features gently rolling prairie interspersed with groves, offering outdoor recreation opportunities at places like McFarland Park and Hickory Grove Park, which provide hiking, fishing, and camping.
Life in Story County blends academic influence with a community-focused atmosphere. The public schools in Story County are highly rated, with several districts serving the area, including Ames, Ballard, and Gilbert. Most residents rely on private vehicles, though CyRide in Ames offers fixed-route bus services, and the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) provides public transportation throughout the county. The economy benefits from its educational institutions and ongoing investments in sectors like renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. Local economic development groups actively work to promote growth and job creation across the county's fifteen municipalities.
Story County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.7% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 8.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Story County Wind Farm
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$300M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 35/100, Story County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $69,685 combined with job growth of -1.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Story County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $258,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,018/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Story County is attracting residents (population +1.9% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -1.1%. Housing values changed +2.7% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
In significant numbers — 8.8% of Story County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.