Story County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$69,685$5,807 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Story County, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Story County, IA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Ames, IA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $972 | $11,664 | $38,880 | 16.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,026 | $12,312 | $41,040 | 17.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,153 | $13,836 | $46,120 | 19.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,601 | $19,212 | $64,040 | 27.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,934 | $23,208 | $77,360 | 33.3% |
What a typical income covers in Story County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $69,685 a year ($5,807 a month before tax).
What $69,685 leaves after Iowa taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Iowa tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Iowa
Living in Story County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Story County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Story County, IA is $69,685 per year (approximately $5,807 per month).
What is the average rent in Story County, IA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $972 for a studio, $1,026 for one bedroom, $1,153 for two, $1,601 for three and $1,934 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Story County, IA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Story County, IA?
To keep a $1,153 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $46,120 a year, or $3,843 a month. That is 66% of what the typical household in Story County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Story County, IA?
On the local median income of $69,685 ($5,807 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,904 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,742 for everything else and $1,161 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,153 takes 40% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Story County, IA?
Homes in Iowa paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.