Paul J. and Ida Trier House · National Register of Historic Places
Johnston’s story
57 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1969Johnston is settled
JohnstonIA
A town of 24,384, settled in 1969. Public schools that outperform most of Iowa.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Iowahwyman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
24,384
+39.3% since 2010
Typical home
$400K
+0.6% in a year
Household income
$107K
median
Median age
37.4
years
Jobs based here
13,766
Balanced
What makes Johnston stand out
The 3 things Johnston does most differently from other towns.
ASchool Grade
Schools
#20 for schools in IA
of 139 towns
School Grade A.
Outdoors
#8 most conserved land in IA
28 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
11.8% of the town is conserved land.
100 U.S. towns● Johnston
Health
Healthier than 89%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than IA on 19 measures, worse on 0.
A growing town
Johnston has grown 39.3% since 2010
17,278 people in 2010; 24,384 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Johnston’s report card
SchoolsABeats 90% of IA districtsOutdoors28 mi#9 for trails in IAHealthAHealthier than 89% of U.S. townsCommute7 miHalf of commuters travel lessHousing$400K67% above the IA typical homeHazards15/100Very low risk of storm & flood damageSafetyA−Less crime than 75% of U.S. townsClimate85°/12°Summer high · winter low · 25″ snow
Now in Johnston
What neighbors are saying. Town Square →
Residents weigh in
Johnston is #1 of 143 in IA for “Fewest smokers”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Johnston’s Town Square.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Johnston. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Johnston’s public schools outperform 90% of Iowa districts
The public schools Johnston’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 90% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry A Wallace Elementary School | PK–5 | 840 | A+ |
| Timber Ridge Elementary | K–5 | 667 | A− |
| Horizon Elementary | K–5 | 613 | B− |
| Beaver Creek Elementary School | K–5 | 575 | A |
| Lawson Elementary School | K–5 | 545 | B |
| Summit Middle School | 6–7 | 1,118 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduationAll 8 schools →
Outdoors
11.8% of Johnston is conserved land
28 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves.
#9for trails in IA
11.8%
conserved · 1,568 of 13,334 acres
28 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
#8
most conserved land in IA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Saylorville Lake Project | 6.1 mi | 1,121 |
| 2. Beaver Creek Natural Resources Area | 4.1 mi | 189 |
| 3. Terra Park | 1.2 mi | 35 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Health
Healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Johnston beats the Iowa average on 19 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
AHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Iowa
19 better13 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Johnston | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.5% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.6% | 6.9% |
VA Central Iowa Healthcare System
5.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
94th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Johnston
Most working residents leave Johnston for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Des Moines (24%), West Des Moines (16%) and Urbandale (9%). Half commute less than 7 miles.
14%work in town
Where working residents work
In Johnston14%
Des Moines24%
West Des Moines16%
Urbandale9%
Ankeny7%
7 mi
median commute distance
13,766
jobs based in Johnston
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Johnston home is worth about $400K
The typical Johnston home is worth about $400,000, up 0.6% in a year, 67% above the Iowa typical home.
$400KZillow home value
Typical home value
Johnston$400K
Iowa$240K
Market temperature
37
days on market
98.1%
sale-to-list price
+0.6%
value change, 1 year
34
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 15% of U.S. communities.
15risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
15
paid flood claims since 1993
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 75% of U.S. towns
Johnston reports less crime per resident than 75% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
A−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Johnston0.8
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Johnston6.7
Iowa12
U.S.15.5
75th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
71st
percentile among IA towns
20
violent crimes reported in 2025
170
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Johnston has cold winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 25 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–34°
Spring39–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall41–63°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Get outside
28 miles of trails in Johnston
11.8% of the town is conserved land, across 25 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Landmarks
2 places in Johnston on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Johnston
City in Iowa, United States
Johnston is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,064 in the 2020 census, a large increase from the 8,649 population in 2000. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Johnston is the location of the headquarters of Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds, Iowa Public Television, and The Gardeners of America/Men's Garden Clubs of America. Also located here are the Camp Dodge Military Reservation as well as the Paul J. and Ida Trier House, a private residence designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Des Moines Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1969
- Population
- 24,064
- Area
- 18 sq mi
- Elevation
- 830 ft
- ZIP code
- 50131
- Area code
- 515
Johnston’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Johnston.