Johnston, Iowa Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Johnston, IA Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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A
Health Above average
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A+
Income Top grade
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A+
Education Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population
| Metric | Johnston | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,666 | 3,204,793 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 985.4 | 57.0 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 4.11% | 0.41% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 38.0 | 36.8 | 37.3 |
| Households | 7,870 | 1,308,457 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Johnston grew by 90.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 20,666 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Johnston is Gen X, aged 45–60, at 22.6% of residents. That is 3.8 points above Iowa as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 3,875 18.7% -3.5 pts
- Millennials 29–44 4,451 21.5% +1.1 pts
- Gen X 45–60 4,678 22.6% +3.8 pts
- Boomers 61–79 2,636 12.8% -4.9 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Iowa, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 52.1% of the people living in Johnston and men 47.9%.
- Women 52.1% Iowa 50.0%
- Men 47.9% Iowa 50.0%
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Economy
Johnston has a the economy index of A+, which means it is exceptionally prosperous.
| Metric | Johnston | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $111,620 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 1.99% | 3.99% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Johnston is about 49% higher than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | Johnston | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $281,282 | $153,425 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,362 | $971 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 71.7% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Johnston is about 17.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,362 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Johnston spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 170 hours, about 7.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Johnston | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.4 | 17.0 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 40.8 | 33.9 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 170 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,269 | $4,382 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 16,810 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,868 | 606 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Johnston is 20 minutes, longer than the 17 minutes in Iowa.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Johnston has a education index of A+, which means it is exceptionally educated.
| Metric | Johnston | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.6% | 27.9% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.60 | 2.37 | 2.53 |
Health
Johnston has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Johnston | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 8.9% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 12.3% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
Johnston, IA Compared With Nearby Cities
How Johnston, IA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston, IA | 20,666 | $111,620 #1/2 | $281,282 #1/2 | 20.4 min #2/2 |
| Urbandale, IA | 42,731 | $106,319 | $281,186 | 17.8 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Johnston, Iowa.
How big is Johnston, Iowa by population?
About 20,666 people live in Johnston, Iowa, in 7,870 households of 2.6 people on average. The median age is 38.0, close to the U.S. median of 37.3.
Is Johnston, Iowa urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, Johnston, Iowa has 985 people per square mile, a density typical of a mix of suburbs, small towns and farmland. That is about 11 times the U.S. average of 86.
Can a typical household afford a home in Johnston, Iowa?
The median home costs 2.5 times the median household income ($281,282 against $111,620), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $1,362 a month takes about 15% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How strong is the job market in Johnston, Iowa?
Unemployment in Johnston, Iowa is only 2.5%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
How common is a college degree in Johnston, Iowa?
51.6% of adults in Johnston, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 5 in 10), well above the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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