Ames, IA — income, home value, property tax, and sales tax.
In ZIP code 50012, which covers part of Ames, per-capita income stands at $6,380. That low figure shapes how the other costs land. Property taxes run at 1.40% of value at the county level, so a home's assessed worth drives a meaningful annual bill even though the rate itself isn't steep. Sales tax adds up to 7.00% on purchases, a cost every household absorbs regardless of income. Together, housing taxes and sales tax claim a larger share of earnings here than in places with higher paychecks, making everyday affordability a tighter squeeze in this Ames ZIP.