Johnston, IA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Iowa·Johnston

Polk County · Des Moines-West Des Moines · population 25,022

OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
65
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Johnston stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $397,889
1-year +0.7%
5-yr CAGR +4.3%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.0%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$398k$244k$300k$357k$414k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
81/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,375/mo$1,237$1,347$1,45720242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent10110210020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 24.1
Lean rent

At a 24.1 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Johnston. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
53 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
61 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
65 · w16%
Rent YoY
63 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
56 · w10%
Long thesis

Johnston has held up across the cycle: home values at $397,889 with +4.3% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Johnston's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Johnston

Johnston is a city in Polk County, Iowa, with an estimated population of 25,022. It anchors the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. The population grew 1.0% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Johnston is $397,889 as of 2026-04, up 0.7% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Johnston average $1,375 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.7%). The composite momentum score is 65 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
○The data is the data: Johnston has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Polk County right now.

NWS active alerts (IA)Iowa Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Polk County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Johnston

Clive, IA66 · RisingUrbandale, IA65 · RisingWest Des Moines, IA67 · RisingLe Mars, IA66 · Rising

Run the numbers for Johnston

ToolCan I afford Johnston?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Johnston rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Johnston to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolJohnston cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
28° / 11°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
84° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
200
~55% of year
Annual precip
36″ rain
30″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
High

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Johnston listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Local chatter (Reddit)

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Des Moines-West Des Moines area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
72%
Humid climate
Median household income
$70,500
Iowa state median
Top industries (state-level)
InsuranceManufacturingAgriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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