Small-town living on the outskirts of Ames
Nevada, the county seat of Story County, lies 10 miles east of Ames on the former Chicago & North Western rail line. Indian Creek skirts downtown, feeding parks and a four-mile greenbelt trail. Many residents make quick commutes to Ames research labs or Story City factories, while local manufacturing, agriculture and renewable-products firms keep the economy varied. Free hours often shift outside—onto ball fields, fishing ponds and the creekside paths that thread through town.
Ranch-style and Traditional homes in modest suburbs
The median sale price is about $255,000. Most listings are ranch-style and Traditional homes that run between $100,000 to about $550,000 depending on age, lot size and square footage. Homes sit in suburban, modest grid-style streets. “A lot of first-time homebuyers in the region can get their start here,” says Paul Livingston, an area Realtor with Hunziker & Associates. "Families with small children have access to well-rated schools and the housing is comparatively affordable to the rest of Iowa."
Nevada High students earn college credit through DMACC
Local kids can start school at Central Elementary, which earns an A-minus from Niche, then continue to the B rated Nevada Middle and High School. Nevada High offers students the opportunity to earn college credits through Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) through their Career Advantage Program.
Sprawling sports complex and neighborhood parks
Nevada maintains eight public parks, and the 60-acre SCORE Recreation and Athletic Complex is the largest. The complex includes an aquatic center, fishing ponds, tennis courts, ball fields and a skate park. Neighborhood parks such as Mardean Park and Kiwanis Park round out the system with playgrounds, picnic shelters and open lawns. The 3-acre Hattery Park is popular for its open land and basketball court. For hiking, Hertz Family Woods & Nature Preserve offers 42 acres of oak–hickory woodland. Hikers trek through 22 native tree species and carpets of spring wildflowers.
Specialized dining on Main Street
Nevada’s dining and shopping options cluster mainly along Main Street and Sixth Street, where T.E. Alderman’s serves gluten-free, scratch-made comfort food in a restored rail-era storefront. A block away, Snack-Time Family Restaurant plates cinnamon-roll French toast, chicken-fried steak and other diner standards from breakfast through dinner, while Renn’s Café roasts its own coffee beans and pairs them with pastries, breakfast burritos and vegan-friendly lunch specials. For groceries, residents rely on Fareway Meat & Grocery, which offers a full butcher counter and fresh produce on South B Avenue, or Dollar Fresh Market, a budget-oriented store that stocks basic staples and ready-to-eat meals.
Shuttle service to Ames and a straight shot to Des Moines
Lincoln Highway (Country Road E41) offers a straight shot west to Ames, and Interstate 35 leads south to Des Moines. HIRTA Public Transit offers shuttle service to and from Ames. Story County Medical Center offers local healthcare, and Des Moines International Airport offers commercial flights about 45 miles from Nevada.
