Ames, IA
Commercial Real Estate Market Trends & Data

$197 Avg asking sale price
$11 Avg asking lease rate
13,890 SF Avg unit lease size
27,092 SF Avg building size for sale
6.41% Average cap rate

Ames's Demographic Profile

Ames has 25,483 households and a median income of $57,597, providing context for rent absorption and tenant demand across retail and multifamily assets. A +3% five-year population trend is a key signal for evaluating long-term demand in this market.

Key Demographic Metric Value
Population 61,598
# Households 25,483
Median age 28
Median household income $57,597
Avg household size 2.0
Renter-occupied housing units 15,125
5-year population change +3%

{{marketTabHeadings[activeMarketTab]}} Market Metrics Near Ames, IA

↻ Updated Monthly

{{marketTabDescriptions[activeMarketTab]}}

Nearby Office Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
Johnston $187 18,308 SF 2.84%
Grimes $245 19,097 SF 7.50%
Nearby Retail Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size
Madrid $106 9,014 SF
Ankeny $1,657 2,936 SF
Johnston $223 18,454 SF
Bondurant $560 7,500 SF
Saylorville $194 4,886 SF
Nearby Multifamily Markets Avg Cost/SF Typical Size Cap Max
Ames $149 18,305 SF 7.78%
Ankeny $440 24,275 SF 7.82%
Johnston $108 21,224 SF 9.08%

Commercial Properties For Sale in Ames

The listings below reflect how current market pricing and building scale translate into active opportunities available today.
For Sale

2108 Isaac Newton Dr

Ames, IA 50010

  • 7,752 SF Retail Building
  • 6.70% Cap Rate
  • $3,000,000
For Sale

Ames Student Housing Portfolio

Ames, IA

  • 6.38% Cap Rate
  • $4,300,000
For Sale

*** Premium Location ***

Ames, IA 50014

  • 0.81 AC Lot
  • 1 Commercial Lot
  • $750,000
For Sale

1820 SE 16th St

Ames, IA 50010

  • 6,500 SF Retail Building
  • 5.25% Cap Rate
  • $3,523,810
For Sale

FedEx Shipping Center

Ames, IA 50010

  • 16,700 SF Industrial Building
  • $1,800,000
For Sale

Riverview Apartments

Ames, IA 50010

  • 25,414 SF Multifamily
  • 7.78% Cap Rate
  • $2,850,000

Average Price For Sale

↻ Updated Monthly

Average Price For Lease

↻ Updated Monthly

Number of Listings

↻ Updated Monthly

Cap Rate

↻ Updated Monthly

How Investors Evaluate Commercial Real Estate Markets

Most Profitable Cities for Multifamily Investments in 2026
Most Profitable Cities for Multifamily Investments in 2026
Data-driven rankings of U.S. cities based on cap rates, pricing, inventory, and renter demand.
What Is a Cap Rate?
What Is a Cap Rate?
How To Calculate This Critical CRE Investment Metric and Why It Matters
How to Buy a Car Wash
How to Buy a Car Wash
Unlock the potential of car wash investments with expert insights on types, costs, and strategies
What Is a Triple-Net Lease? A Guide for CRE Investors
What Is a Triple-Net Lease? A Guide for CRE Investors
A breakdown of how triple-net leases divide costs between landlords and tenants, along with the tax implications and risks investors should weigh before signing.
Net Operating Income (NOI) Calculator
Net Operating Income (NOI) Calculator
Calculating NOI and Understanding the Significance of This Metric in Commercial Real Estate Investment
Common Area Maintenance Charges (CAM)
Common Area Maintenance Charges (CAM)
Understand CAM Fees: How Tenants Share Building Operating Costs
Understanding Existing Office Space Conditions
Understanding Existing Office Space Conditions
The Differences Between Shell Space, Full and Partial Build-Outs and Spec Suites
Tenant Improvement Allowance (TIA)
Tenant Improvement Allowance (TIA)
What Is a Tenant Improvement Allowance in Commercial Real Estate?

Nearby Commercial Markets

Comparing nearby markets helps investors see whether Ames pricing and building scale sit above, below, or in line with surrounding areas.

Commercial Markets Avg Cost/SF Average Size
Ames $197 27,092 SF
Gilbert $199 7,915 SF
Nevada $77 13,697 SF

Regional Demographic Comparison

This comparison places Ames alongside nearby cities to show how population size, household counts, and income levels differ across the region. Viewing these markets side by side helps investors understand whether local demand and income characteristics are concentrated in Ames or distributed across surrounding areas.

City Population # Households Age Median Household Income Avg Household Size Renter Occupied Housing Units Five Yr Pop Growth %
Ames 61,598 25,483 28 $57,597 2 15,125 3%
Gilbert 1,093 414 37 $73,749 3 65 3%
Story City 3,629 1,578 45 $72,724 2 456 3%
Roland 1,319 505 38 $74,249 3 72 1%
Nevada 7,377 3,046 40 $71,651 2 806 3%

Disclaimer: The figures on this page reflect LoopNet's active commercial listings in Ames, IA and update as inventory changes. Averages can shift between periods or vary across property types depending on the mix of listings available at a given time, so individual metrics may not reflect broader market trends. These figures are best used as directional benchmarks for early market evaluation. For comprehensive commercial real estate data and analytics, subscribe to CoStar.

FAQs About Commercial Investing in Ames

View All Commercial Real Estate For Sale in Ames
Is Ames a good market for a first-time commercial real estate investor?

Ames offers commercial properties across a wide range of sizes and price points. By reviewing the market data and benchmarks on this page, first-time investors can better understand what a typical commercial property looks like before committing capital and narrowing in on specific listings.

How can this market data help me decide whether to buy commercial property for my business in Ames?

The pricing and size metrics on this page help business owners compare the cost of ownership against leasing in Ames. Typical building sizes and asking prices provide a starting point for evaluating space needs, budget fit, and long term occupancy costs before engaging lenders or brokers.

What should conservative investors focus on when evaluating commercial properties in Ames?

Conservative investors often prioritize manageable deal sizes, stable pricing ranges, and cap rate benchmarks shown for Ames. These metrics help assess whether current market conditions support steady income potential without relying on aggressive assumptions.

How does Ames compare to nearby commercial real estate markets?

Nearby market comparisons highlight differences in pricing, building scale, and cap rate ranges relative to Ames. Reviewing these side by side helps experienced investors identify relative value, pricing premiums, or alternative markets that may better align with return targets.

How can this page support early-stage deal screening for Ames acquisitions?

This page provides high-level benchmarks for pricing, deal size, and observed cap rates in Ames, which are useful for initial market filtering. Institutional and data-driven investors often use these signals to prioritize listings that meet size, pricing, and return thresholds before deeper underwriting.

Nearby Cities
Commercial Market Reports