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Johnston, IA
City in Polk County, Iowa. ZIP codes: 50131.
Population
24,384
Land area
19.5sq mi
People per sq mi
1,251
ZIP codes
1
Johnston and its ZIP codes
Johnston at a glance
- Johnston is about 22 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 21st among 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- The median household income is $106,551, 42% above the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $369,100 (77% above Iowa) and median rent is $1,338 a month.
Local data for Johnston, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Johnston, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$106,551
Poverty rate
10.2%
Median home value
$369,100
Median rent
$1,338/mo
Homeownership
70.8%
Bachelor's or higher
57.8%
Median age
37.4
Average commute
19.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (6,516), Irish Americans (4,164), Norwegian Americans (1,021).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Polk County. PPP loans are for Johnston.
Unemployment rate
3.8%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$75,176
314,942 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,800
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$3.6B
FY 2026, $7,339 per person
PPP loans
$58.3M
736 loans, 6,315 jobs reported
How people get to work
Johnston, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.9%
- Carpooled5.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home14.0%
Average one-way commute: 19.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Johnston, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
2,144
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
670
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 13°F
36.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Johnston, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.0%
U.S. 33.3% +0.7 pts
Diabetes
8.7%
U.S. 12.1% -3.4 pts
Smoking
10.2%
U.S. 12.8% -2.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
4.9%
U.S. 11.1% -6.2 pts
ZIP codes in Johnston
1 in or overlapping Johnston. Population shown
Cities near Johnston
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| GrimesCity | 4.2 mi | 13.1 |
| UrbandaleCity | 4.6 mi | 22.5 |
| SaylorvilleCensus-designated place | 5.2 mi | 6.8 |
| Polk CityCity | 5.8 mi | 5.6 |
| AnkenyCity | 5.9 mi | 31.9 |
| GrangerCity | 6.1 mi | 2.5 |
| Windsor HeightsCity | 6.9 mi | 1.4 |
| CliveCity | 8.4 mi | 7.7 |
| AllemanCity | 9.2 mi | 2.9 |
| Des MoinesCity | 11 mi | 88.2 |
| WaukeeCity | 11 mi | 21.9 |
| SheldahlCity | 11 mi | 0.8 |
| West Des MoinesCity | 11 mi | 47.5 |
| ElkhartCity | 12 mi | 1.9 |
| SlaterCity | 12 mi | 1.9 |
| AltoonaCity | 13 mi | 13.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Johnston, IA in?
- Johnston is in Polk County, Iowa.
- What ZIP codes are in Johnston, IA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Johnston include 50131.
- What is the population of Johnston, IA?
- About 24,384 people live in Johnston, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Johnston?
- Nearby places include Grimes (4.2 mi), Urbandale (4.6 mi), Saylorville (5.2 mi), Polk City (5.8 mi), Ankeny (5.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023