Johnston, Iowa · Des Moines metro
Living in Johnston, Iowa. Big employers, quiet streets.
Johnston is a northwest suburb that borders Des Moines, just north of I-35/80 and south of Saylorville Lake. About 25,100 people live here (2025 Census estimate). Most homes are in the Johnston Community School District, and the city’s portion of the property tax rate is about $11.44 per $1,000.
01 / At a glance
Johnston by the numbers.
| Population | 25,065 (Census estimate, July 2025). 24,064 in the 2020 Census. |
|---|---|
| Growth | Up about 4% from 2020 to 2025 |
| County | Polk |
| Schools | Mostly Johnston Community School District (Johnston High School). District lines do not match city lines, so check by address. |
| City tax rate | $11.44 per $1,000 of taxable value, FY2027 as proposed, same as FY2026 (city portion only) |
| Median home value | $369,100 (Census survey, 2020 to 2024) |
| Median household income | $106,551 (Census survey, 2020 to 2024) |
| Getting downtown | Borders Des Moines on the northwest, just north of I-35/80. Average commute about 20 minutes. |
| Public transit | DART Route 5 on Merle Hay Road, every 30 minutes, 7 days a week (since June 2026) |
Census figures are estimates. Home values and incomes are 5-year Census survey averages, not today’s prices. For current prices in your range, I pull live MLS numbers.
02 / Living here
What it’s like to live in Johnston.
Schools
The Johnston Community School District has about 7,250 students in five elementary schools, Summit (grades 6 and 7), Johnston Middle (grades 8 and 9) and Johnston High School, which opened in 2017. The district also takes in parts of Urbandale, Des Moines and Grimes, so I check the district for every address.
Getting around
Johnston sits right on the northwest edge of Des Moines, with I-35/80 along its south side and Merle Hay Road and NW 86th Street running through town. The average commute is about 20 minutes. Since DART’s June 2026 redesign, Route 5 runs Merle Hay Road to downtown every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
Parks and trails
Terra Lake Park covers more than 200 acres around an 8-acre stocked fishing lake and connects to the Beaver Creek Natural Resource Area and the Crown Point Community Center. The paved Beaver Creek Greenbelt Trail runs about 4.4 miles, and the city counts more than 35 miles of trails. Part of Saylorville Lake sits inside the city.
Growth and jobs
Corteva (Pioneer) and John Deere Financial have world headquarters here, along with Camp Dodge and Iowa PBS. In January 2026 the council approved a $27 million Corteva research expansion. The Merle Hay Gateway area is adding a golf entertainment venue and hotel and a large indoor sports complex, targeted for late 2026 and 2027.
03 / What I tell clients
Before you buy or sell in Johnston.
- Check the school district by address. Some Johnston addresses and some Urbandale, Grimes and Des Moines addresses cross the lines you would expect.
- Compare the whole tax bill, not just the city rate. The city’s share is roughly 31% of a typical Johnston residential bill. The county, schools and other levies make up the rest.
- Near Beaver Creek or Saylorville Lake, check the flood map. Look up the FEMA flood zone and get a flood insurance quote before you write an offer.
- Ask about HOA dues and special assessments in newer subdivisions, and on a 15 to 30 year old home I still look hard at the roof, the furnace and air conditioner, and the grading.
04 / Homes for sale
Search homes for sale in Johnston.
Type Johnston in Location and pick it from the list. Results open in a new tab on my RE/MAX Revolution search site, where you can save a search and get new-listing alerts.
05 / Tours and articles
What I’ve seen in Johnston.
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How Do I Stage My Johnston Home to Sell Without Spending a Fortune?
Staging your Johnston home to sell does not take a designer or a big budget. Deep clean, declutter, depersonalize, fix the small…
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How Do I Know If a Real Estate Agent Is Actually Looking Out for Me in Johnston?
An agent who is looking out for you will tell you things you do not want to hear, explain the trade-offs before…
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Is a Finished Basement Worth Paying More For in Johnston?
A finished basement is usually worth paying more for in Johnston if it was finished well, stays dry, and adds space you…
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Is a Home Warranty Worth It for a First-Time Buyer in Johnston?
A home warranty is often worth it for a first-time buyer in Johnston when the house has aging but working systems, because…
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What Does a REALTOR With a Trades Background Actually Check at a Johnston Showing?
At a Johnston showing I check the things that are expensive to change and easy to miss: the age and condition of…
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What Should I Fix Before I List My Home in Johnston?
If you are getting ready to sell your Johnston home and wondering what is worth fixing first, here is a straight answer…
06 / Common questions
Living in Johnston, answered.
Is Johnston a good place to live?
Buyers usually choose Johnston for the Johnston school district, Terra Lake Park and the trail system, and a short drive to I-35/80, Merle Hay Road shopping and big employers like Corteva and John Deere Financial. It is a mature suburb, so you will find more established neighborhoods mixed with newer subdivisions.
How far is Johnston from Des Moines?
Johnston borders Des Moines on the northwest, just north of I-35/80. The average commute for residents is about 20 minutes (Census).
What school district is Johnston in?
Most of Johnston is in the Johnston Community School District, which runs Johnston High School. The district also covers parts of Urbandale, Des Moines and Grimes, and district lines do not follow city lines, so confirm the district for the exact address.
What are property taxes like in Johnston?
The city portion is about $11.44 per $1,000 of taxable value for FY2027 as proposed, the same as FY2026. That is roughly 31% of a typical residential bill. The rest comes from Polk County, the school district and other levies.
Does Johnston have public transit?
Yes. Since DART’s June 2026 route redesign, Route 5 runs between downtown Des Moines and Johnston along Merle Hay Road every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
How much do homes cost in Johnston?
The Census survey puts the median owner-occupied home value at $369,100 (2020 to 2024 average). Prices move faster than that survey, so for today’s numbers in your price range, text me and I’ll pull live MLS data.
Sources (checked November 2026): Census QuickFacts · Johnston FY2027 proposed levy · Johnston property tax calculator · Johnston Community School District · DART new routes · Terra Park · City of Johnston · Merle Hay Gateway (WHO Radio). Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed; confirm school district and taxes for any specific address.
Buying or selling in Johnston?
Let’s talk it through.
Call or text me at 515-606-1227. No pressure, ever.