Nevada ( niv-AY-də) is a city in and the county seat of Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,925 in the 2020 census, an increase from 6,658 in 2000. Nevada is part of the Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a part of the larger Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area. Nevada is the second-most populous city in Story County. The city’s name is pronounced differently from the state of Nevada. Instead of nuh-VAD-uh (using a short "a"), the city’s name is pronounced nuh-VAY-duh.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Nevada ranks

All →

#5Highest graduation rate in IA #22Lowest obesity in IA #36Most active in IA All IA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code50201

Area code515

Living in Nevada

Housing in Nevada

$249K▲ 2.4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Nevada home is worth about $249,000, up 2.4% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market11

Sale-to-list98%

Sold in May6

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Health in Nevada

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 69% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

2better than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 30 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

71%More adults screened for colon cancerIA 66.6% · better 70.5%More adults seeing a dentistIA 66.8% · better

Care nearby

Story County HospitalNevada · 2 mi · ER · rural critical access

Primary Health Care - Story CountyAmes · 10.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Nevada · CMS · HRSAHealth in Nevada →

Natural hazards in Nevada

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 43% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌵 Drought

16Does Nevada flood?paid flood claims since 1984 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Nevada

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Nevada →

Schools in Nevada

All Nevada schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Nevada’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 61% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#63Best public schoolsof 139 in IA

DistrictNevada Comm School DistrictSchools3

Central Elementary School BElementary · Grades PK–4 · 632 students Nevada Middle School B-Middle · Grades 5–8 · 442 students Nevada High School B-High · Grades 9–12 · 498 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.