About Campustown
Campustown offers the best selection of off-campus apartments and townhomes near Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. With rents starting as low as $344/month, students can find quality housing within walking distance of campus — all without the price tag that often comes with living close to school.
All Campustown units are leased by the bed, also known as individual leasing. Rather than signing a lease for an entire apartment, each resident signs their own lease and is responsible only for their own bedroom and rent. This means you're never liable for a roommate's share, and if someone moves out early, your lease and your monthly payment stay exactly as they are. Every lease includes internet and trash pickup, and furnished floor plans are available for those who want a move-in-ready experience.
Campustown also simplifies utilities through Individual Liability Utilities. Starting August 2026, Campustown manages utilities on behalf of all residents — meaning no deposits, no setting up accounts with providers, and no splitting bills with roommates. Your utility charges are billed directly through your Campustown rent account, keeping everything in one place and easy to track.
Finding roommates isn't something you have to figure out on your own. Campustown offers professional roommate matching services for residents who aren't coming in with a group. If you do have friends you want to live with, you can request to be placed together during the application process — just choose the same floor plan and list each other as preferred roommates.
Campustown listings are divided into two availability windows: fall and immediate. Fall rentals are timed to the start of the ISU academic year, with move-in dates in late August. Leasing for fall opens as early as November, and availability narrows as the season progresses, so signing early gives you the widest selection of floor plans and locations. Immediate move-ins are available year-round for students who need housing outside of the standard August cycle, whether that's a mid-year transfer, a spring arrival, or any other circumstance. Off-cycle leases sometimes carry favorable pricing, though deals are not guaranteed.
Browse fall listings or immediate move-ins to find your next home near Iowa State University.
When Do You Want to Move In?
Campustown listings fall into two move-in windows: Fall and Immediate.
Fall '26 rentals are timed to the start of the ISU academic year, with move-in dates in late August. You can start browsing and signing as early as November — and it's worth doing so, since the best floor plans and locations go fast. The later you wait, the smaller your selection gets.
Immediate move-ins are available for students who need housing outside of the typical August cycle — whether you're transferring mid-year, arriving for a spring semester, or just need a change of scenery. Selection is more limited than during fall leasing season, but off-cycle timing sometimes comes with attractive pricing.
How Leasing Works at Campustown — By-the-Bed for Every Unit
Every Campustown apartment and townhome is leased by the bed, meaning you sign for your bedroom only — not the whole unit. Your lease covers your private bedroom plus shared common areas, and includes furniture (on furnished floor plans), internet, and trash pickup at one flat rate. You're never on the hook for a roommate's rent.
If you're coming in solo, Campustown offers professional roommate matching to pair you with compatible housemates. If you already have a crew, just list each other on the roommate form when you apply and request the same floor plan — Campustown will work to place you together. And if a roommate leaves early, your lease and your rent stay exactly as they are. Learn more about By-the-Bed leasing.
Prefer to use your own furniture? No problem — just filter for unfurnished floor plans when browsing listings.
Securing Your Campustown Apartment or Townhome
- Browse listings. Start at the Fall '26 listings page or the Immediate move-ins page to find a floor plan that fits your needs. Use the map view to see exactly how close each unit is to campus.
- Pick your unit. Each floor plan has its own detail page where you can review photos, layout, pricing, and availability. When you're ready, hit the Apply Nowbutton at the top-right of the page (bottom-right on mobile).
- Submit your application. Fill out the online application with your basic information and any roommate preferences. Once submitted, the Campustown team will take it from there.
