$82,630/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $280,269 home in Ames, IA at today's 6.47% rate — about $1,928/mo. The local median household ($71,090) falls $11,540 short.
The math (shown)
280,269 price − 10% down (28,027) = 252,242 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.47% on 252,242 = 1,589/mo principal+interest
+ 339/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
1,928/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 6,886/mo → 82,630/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.47% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-06-18). Local median income: $71,090 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Ames, IA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Ames, IA?
To buy the typical home, about $82,630/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Ames, IA metro (2026-05): $280,269.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.47% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-06-18).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.