Movers in Ames, IA

Areas and Communities in Ames

Ames has distinct residential pockets, each with its own moving considerations. Here's what to know before booking.

Somerset Village sits in northwest Ames as a master-planned community with newer homes, townhomes, and apartments built around a small commercial center. The Somerset Property Owners Association has active bylaws and covenants. Contact them before move day to confirm truck parking rules and any notice requirements. Streets are wide and modern, which helps with large vehicles. Call (855) 822-2722 for details about moving logistics in Somerset Village.

Northridge / Northridge Heights draws families with larger single-family homes and green space on the north side. The Northridge Parkway HOA manages covenants and common areas, so check in with them early about where trucks can stage and whether certain hours are restricted. Most homes have garages and driveways, and streets are standard subdivision width.

Historic Old Town is one of the more unpredictable areas to move into, honestly. Older housing stock near downtown attracts a mix of students, professionals, and long-time residents. No master HOA governs the area, but some streets closer to downtown carry time limits or residential parking permits. Certain blocks have narrower streets and mature trees that may restrict very large trucks, so route-planning ahead of time pays off.

College Creek / Old Ames borders the Iowa State campus and sees the heaviest move-in and move-out traffic in the city. Parking congestion spikes sharply during ISU's August move-in and May move-out periods. Because tight lots and shared driveways in older student complexes can make positioning a large truck difficult, booking outside those peak weekends is strongly recommended.

Bloomington Heights / Top-O-Hollow on the north and northeast side offers quieter suburban living with a median home price of $278,000. Some subsections include covenants through individual developers. Cul-de-sacs are common here, so large tractor-trailers may need to stage on nearby collector roads. Call (855) 822-2722 for details about moving logistics in Bloomington Heights.

Brookside / Oak-Riverside sits near Brookside Park in central Ames with a mix of older homes and rentals. Park-adjacent streets can fill up on weekends, so truck parking may require a short walk to the front door. No large master HOA is documented for this area.

Stone Brooke in northwest Ames is a planned community of townhomes and houses where the Stone Brooke Residential Community association handles common-area maintenance. Internal streets and shared drives can be tighter than older grid neighborhoods. In most cases, large semis need to stage on main roads while a smaller vehicle handles final delivery on interior sections. Call (855) 822-2722 for details about moving logistics in Stone Brooke.

Allenview / Meeker North on the south and southeast side offers more affordable options, with a median home price of $246,067 in Allenview. The conventional suburban layout generally allows straightforward truck access, with attached garages and driveways as the norm.

Climate and Lifestyle

Ames has a true four-season Iowa climate. Winters are cold, with frequent sub-freezing temperatures, snow, and icy conditions that can affect driveway access and truck traction. If you're moving between November and March, build in extra time and confirm snow removal at both addresses before the crew arrives. Spring and fall offer more manageable conditions but can bring severe thunderstorms and some tornado risk, so watch forecasts closely around move day. Summers bring heat and humidity. Midday moves become physically demanding, and heat-sensitive items need attention. Because Iowa State University anchors the city's social calendar, late summer and early May see the heaviest residential turnover in the city. Scheduling outside those windows usually makes for a smoother experience, although it depends on your timeline.

Job Market and Major Employers

Iowa State University is the dominant employer in Ames, driving jobs in teaching, research, administration, and student services across the city. The U.S. Department of Agriculture operates federal agricultural and animal health research facilities in the area, making ag and animal science research a second major sector. Higher education and research shape most of the professional hiring here, attracting faculty, graduate students, and researchers from across the country. The university and student-oriented economy also support a broad range of service, administrative, and part-time positions for early-career workers and students.

Cost of Living and Housing

Housing costs in Ames vary noticeably by neighborhood. Median home prices range from $199,700 in Historic Old Town and $205,850 in Brookside up to $342,500 in Northridge and $348,300 in Somerset Village, with Top-O-Hollow at $278,000 and Allenview at $246,067. Northwest Ames commands the highest prices, while central and older areas offer more accessible entry points. Overall, Ames is generally considered moderately affordable compared with larger university cities, which draws staff, families, and researchers who want proximity to ISU without major-metro price tags. But prices in the northwest have been climbing, so timing your purchase matters if you're eyeing Somerset Village or Northridge.

Tips for Moving to Ames

1. Avoid ISU peak move periods. College Creek and campus-adjacent areas become heavily congested during Iowa State's August move-in and May move-out weekends. Booking outside those first and last weekends of the semester reduces parking competition and hallway congestion significantly.

2. Contact HOAs before move day. Somerset Village, Northridge, and Stone Brooke all have active associations with covenants that may govern truck parking locations, move hours, and notice requirements. Reach out to your HOA or property manager at least a week in advance.

3. Plan for winter conditions. Central Iowa winters bring snow and ice from roughly November through March. Confirm snow removal at your new address, allow extra travel time, and avoid very early morning moves after overnight freezes when driveways are slick.

4. Check routing for cul-de-sacs. Newer subdivisions like Somerset, Stone Brooke, Northridge, and Bloomington Heights have curving streets and cul-de-sacs that can be tight for large trucks. Use mapping tools to identify narrow internal roads and plan to stage on collector streets if needed.

Service Areas

We provide local and long-distance moving services across Ames and the surrounding area: Ames, Gilbert, Huxley, Nevada, Story City, Roland, Slater, Cambridge, Maxwell, Boone, Madrid, Rural Story County

Star Van Lines provides moving services across all 50 states from our 43 warehouse locations nationwide. Whether you're moving across Story County or across the country, call (855) 822-2722 for a free quote.