Taxes in Ames
Ames's tax picture combines a genuinely below-median effective property tax rate with Iowa's real, statewide flat-tax structure.
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Learn moreA property tax rate below Iowa's own statewide median
Ames's effective property tax rate ran approximately 1.42% (Ownwell's cited median, consistent across both the 50010 and 50014 ZIP codes reviewed) -- modestly below Iowa's own statewide median (~1.55%).
Iowa's real, current flat income tax
Iowa's individual income tax rate runs a flat 3.8% (2026) on all taxable income -- reached a year ahead of schedule via a real, multi-year phase-down from a former top graduated rate of 8.53%, per this project's verified Iowa statewide research context.
A real, current 7% combined sales tax
Ames's combined sales tax runs 7% (Iowa's 6% state base plus Story County's 1% local-option sales tax; Ames itself levies no separate additional city rate).
Key takeaways
- Ames's effective property tax rate (~1.42%) runs modestly below Iowa's own statewide median.
- Iowa's flat 3.8% income tax applies to all taxable income statewide, including in Ames.
- Ames's 7% combined sales tax reflects Iowa's 6% state base plus Story County's 1% local-option tax.
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