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.

Official town website ↗

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

How Johnston ranks

All →

#1Fewest smokers in IA #2Highest graduation rate in IA #3Fewest uninsured in IA All IA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code50131

Area code515

Living in Johnston

Housing in Johnston

$400K▲ 0.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Johnston home is worth about $400,000, up 0.6% in a year, 67% above the Iowa typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market37

Sale-to-list98.1%

Sold in May34

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Johnston

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Johnston reports less crime per resident than 75% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Johnston 0.8

Iowa 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Johnston 6.7

Iowa 12

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Johnston

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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.

Des Moines

24%

West Des Moines

16%

Urbandale

Ankeny

14%Work in townlive and work in Johnston 7 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 13,766Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Johnston →

Health in Johnston

Health Grade A

Healthier than 89% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

19better than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▲ 4 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.5%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethIA 11.6% · better 4.6%Fewer adults with COPDIA 6.9% · better

Care nearby

VA Central Iowa Healthcare SystemDes Moines · 5.7 mi · ER

Primary Health Care - West Side ClinicUrbandale · 5.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

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

Natural hazards in Johnston

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 15% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌡️ Heat waves

15Does Johnston flood?paid flood claims since 1993 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Johnston MapJohnston vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Johnston

Full climate →

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.

34° / 16°Winter

61° / 39°Spring

83° / 62°Summer

63° / 41°Fall

How much snow does Johnston get?About 25 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 15, with the last in spring around Apr 23.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Johnston →

Schools in Johnston

All Johnston schools →

School Grade A

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.

#20Best public schoolsof 139 in IA

DistrictJohnston Comm School DistrictSchools8

Henry A Wallace Elementary School A+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 840 students Timber Ridge Elementary A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 667 students Horizon Elementary B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 613 students Beaver Creek Elementary School AElementary · Grades K–5 · 575 students Lawson Elementary School BElementary · Grades K–5 · 545 students Summit Middle School A-Middle · Grades 6–7 · 1,118 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.