2025 Compare Cities Housing:
Ames, IA vs Valparaiso, IN

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in Ames is 43.3% younger than the median age of a home in Valparaiso.
 Ames, IAValparaiso, INUnited States
 Median Home Age30  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$301,200$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months11.4%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock54.9%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.63.1%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$9.2$11.0
 Homes Owned38.9%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock5.7%11.2%
 Homes Rented52.8%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 Ames, IAValparaiso, INUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$1,320$1,840
 Studio Apartment$840  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$890$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$1,030  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$1,340$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$1,750  Unlock$2,160
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 Vacant Housing
 Ames, IAValparaiso, INUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock3.3%1.9%
 Vacant Rented1.5%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.2%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.6%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock0.5%3.6%
 Vacant Other1.3%  Unlock4.1%
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 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 Ames, IAValparaiso, INUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock0.9%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9993.3%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock0.0%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.7%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock1.0%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,99910.3%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock26.6%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,99937.7%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock13.7%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9995.1%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock3.5%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,9991.3%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock0.3%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,9990.0%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock0.0%1.1%
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 Housing Units By Year Built
 Ames, IAValparaiso, INUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.5%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock9.5%13.6%
 2000 to 200917.2%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock19.2%13.6%
 1980 to 19899.2%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock17.2%14.8%
 1960 to 196918.4%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock7.8%10.0%
 1940 to 19492.5%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock15.0%12.2%
Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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Reviews for Valparaiso    11 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

I moved to Valparaiso, IN about 1 year ago. I moved here because I was attending the law school located here. At a glance, it appears to be a small town, with many new  More

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Over 11 years ago

My favorite restaurants in Valparaiso are: Panera Bread--The lines sometimes get long, but, the service is decent and the food is great. Red Robin--Bottomless fries  More

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I loved driving anywhere, down any road because of the trees, fields and green, green grass that is all over. Cost of living is outrageous! But lil towns close by make  More

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