Side-by-side comparison of Ames, IA and Davenport, IA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Davenport has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.37% compared to Ames's 3.33%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $235,000 in Ames vs $165,000 in Davenport, while rents come in at $1,150/mo and $980/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Ames is growing faster at 0.8% annually vs Davenport's 0.1%. Ames leads on home value appreciation at 2.5% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.5% in Ames vs 1.52% in Davenport. Vacancy rates of 4.2% and 6.2% are mixed — Ames has the tighter rental market.
Bottom line: Ames edges out Davenport on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.33%, Ames's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Ames or Davenport.