Johnson County, Iowa Housing Market Prices
Johnson County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 27% above the Iowa median More expensive than 74% of counties in Iowa$195,175
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Median rent 16% above the Iowa median Among the 3 most expensive counties in Iowa$1,122
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Johnson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $195,175 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | -0.6% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,122 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.1% | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Johnson County is about 27% higher than in Iowa. Rent is about 16% higher than the Iowa average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Home prices and rent are moving in opposite directions in Johnson County: home prices fell about 0.6% a year while rent rose about 3.1% a year. That is an unusual pattern worth watching.
Median rent in Johnson County rose about 29.1% between 2015 and 2024, from $869 to $1,122. Over the same span, rent in Iowa rose about 39.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.6 yearly household incomes in Johnson County.
Buying the median-priced home in Johnson County costs roughly 14.5 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Johnson County. The price-to-rent ratio in Iowa is about 13.2.
| Metric | Johnson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $195,175 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $74,948 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.6 | 2.0 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Johnson County fell about 7.4%, while median household income rose about 46.6% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Johnson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 65.6% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 37.7% | 25.9% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 7.1% | 8.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 12.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2014 | 2011 | 2011 |
Johnson County has a homeownership rate of 55.1%, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 7.1%, compared with 8.5% in Iowa.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Johnson County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.34 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1988 | 1971 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.5 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Johnson County was built around 1988. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 5.5 rooms, staying for about 12.0 years on average.
Johnson County, IA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
How Johnson County, IA compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County, IA | 156,634 | $195,175 #2/3 | $1,122 #1/3 | 59.4% #3/3 |
| Linn County, IA | 230,016 | $232,669 | $944 | 73.5% |
| Cedar County, IA | 18,349 | $141,406 | $878 | 81.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Johnson County, Iowa.
What is the median home price in Johnson County, Iowa?
The median home price in Johnson County, Iowa is $195,175, higher than the Iowa average of $153,425.
What is the average home price in Johnson County, Iowa?
The typical home price in Johnson County, Iowa, reported as the median sale price, is $195,175. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Johnson County, Iowa?
The median gross rent in Johnson County, Iowa is $1,122 per month, higher than the Iowa average of $971.
What was the median gross rent in Johnson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Johnson County, Iowa was $983 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Johnson County, Iowa?
The price-to-rent ratio in Johnson County, Iowa is about 14.5, meaning it would take roughly 14.5 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Johnson County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Johnson County, Iowa?
Home prices and rent are moving in opposite directions in Johnson County: home prices fell about 0.6% a year while rent rose about 3.1% a year. That is an unusual pattern worth watching.
What is the homeownership rate in Johnson County, Iowa?
55.1% of households in Johnson County, Iowa own their home, lower than the Iowa average of 65.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in Johnson County, Iowa?
The housing vacancy rate in Johnson County, Iowa is 7.1%, lower than the Iowa average of 8.5%.
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