In Johnston, a typical home is worth $369,100 and typical rent is $1,338 a month. Compared with all of Polk County, the typical home value is 41% higher and typical household income is 27% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $337,602 to $400,194.
Typical rent
$1,356a month
▲ 0.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2024 to September 2026: from $1,381 to $1,356.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Johnston is in Polk County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Polk County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Johnston has the 3rd highest typical home value of the 86 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people ($369,100).
2
Nearby, in Polk City, the typical rent is $782: 42% less than in Johnston ($1,338).
3
Johnston has the 4th highest typical rent of the 85 cities in Iowa with more than 5,000 people ($1,338).
4
Nearby, in Windsor Heights, the typical home value is $267,900: 27% less than in Johnston ($369,100).
5
The typical household income in Johnston is $106,551,27% more than in Polk County as a whole ($83,576).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Johnston
What homes there are in Johnston, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
United States
Kind of home: Johnston and its comparisons
Measure
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
United States
Detached house
56%
63%
72%
61%
Attached house
14%
8%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
4%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
28%
24%
14%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Johnston, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Polk County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
United States
Year built: Johnston and its comparisons
Measure
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
United States
Before 1960
3%
28%
38%
26%
1960–1979
4%
20%
24%
24%
1980–1999
30%
21%
17%
25%
2000–2009
33%
14%
11%
14%
2010 or later
30%
17%
11%
11%
Homes in Johnston are newer: the typical year built is 2004; in Polk County, 1982.
Homes in Johnston are bigger: 68% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Polk County, 58%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K4%
$200K–$300K28%
$300K–$500K47%
$500K–$750K13%
$750K–$1M6%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Johnston and its comparisons
Measure
Johnston
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
4%
$200K–$300K
28%
$300K–$500K
47%
$500K–$750K
13%
$750K–$1M
6%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49959%
$1,500–$1,99920%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Johnston and its comparisons
Measure
Johnston
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
59%
$1,500–$1,999
20%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,361 a month
Polk County: $1,741 a month
Without a mortgage
$815 a month
Polk County: $714 a month
Owners with a mortgage
67%
Polk County: 70%
Owning costs more in Johnston: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,361 a month; in Polk County, $1,741. Without one, $815.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Johnston+38%
Polk County+46%
Iowa+41%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Johnston+17%
Polk County+26%
Iowa+23%
United States+33%
Typical household income
JohnstonNo clear change
Polk County+24%
Iowa+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Johnston and its comparisons
Measure
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
United States
Typical home value
+38%
+46%
+41%
+53%
Typical rent
+17%
+26%
+23%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+24%
+24%
+29%
The typical home value in Johnston rose 38% since 2015–2019, less than in Polk County (46%).
The typical rent in Johnston rose 17% over the same time; in Polk County, it rose 26%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Johnston and its comparisons
Measure
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.5%
5.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.5%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.4%
1.6%
3.4%
People per household
2.61
2.41
2.36
2.53
Drive alone
79%
72%
76%
69%
Carpool
5%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
14%
16%
11%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
On average, a household in Johnston has 2.61 people, more than in Polk County (2.41).
To get to work, 79% of workers in Johnston drive alone; in Polk County, 72%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Johnston?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Johnston, worth $369,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Johnston, which is $106,551 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $142,271 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Polk County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Johnston. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $12,919 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$3,320
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$362,414
Total interest
$521,429
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $6,233 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,486 a month
Tight
$2,486 to $3,197 a month
Hard
more than $3,197 a month
Your payment · 37%
Compared with the typical household income in Johnston ($106,551 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,455
Property tax
$548
Home insurance
$154
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$163
You need at least $12,919 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $3,320; principal and interest $2,455.
The city and its county
Johnston and Polk County
Johnston is in Polk County, Iowa. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Johnston
Map of Polk County, Iowa, with Johnston marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Johnston
Polk County
Other cities with a page
Johnston's own numbers
Typical home value
$369,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,338
Typical yearly household income
$106,551
Households that own their home
71%
Effective property tax rate
1.78%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Polk County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,360
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Polk County.
A typical home in Johnston is worth $369,100: 41% above the county and 77% above Iowa. With the typical household income in Johnston ($106,551 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Johnston3.5 years
Polk3.1 years
Iowa2.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Polk County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Polk County rose 70% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Polk County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Polk County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.8% +4.8% 2016
2017: +5.0% +5.0% 2017
2018: +4.4% +4.4% 2018
2019: +3.1% +3.1% 2019
2020: +2.0% +2.0% 2020
2021: +9.1% +9.1% 2021
2022: +12.6% +12.6% 2022
2023: +7.4% +7.4% 2023
2024: +4.6% +4.6% 2024
2025: +1.7% +1.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Polk County, Iowa and the United States
Period
County
Iowa
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.7%
+3.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+40%
+41%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+70%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Johnston next to Polk County, Iowa and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Johnston$369,100
Polk$262,100
Iowa$208,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Johnston$1,338
Polk$1,149
Iowa$972
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Johnston$106,551
Polk$83,576
Iowa$75,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Johnston next to Polk County and Iowa
Measure
Johnston
Polk County
Iowa
U.S.
Typical home value
$369,100 ▲41% above the county
$262,100
$208,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,338 ▲16% above the county
$1,149
$972
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$106,551 ▲27% above the county
$83,576
$75,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
71% ▲3 points above the county
67%
72%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$6,577 ▲50% above the county
$4,396
$2,897
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.78% ▲0.1 points above the county
1.68%
1.39%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46%
46%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Polk County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Johnston
For a typical $369,100 home in Johnston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Johnston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$3,320a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$12,919
Cash to close
$23,992
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $163
Conventional, 5% down$3,252a month
Down payment
$18,455
Cash to close
$29,528
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $175
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,702a month
Down payment
$73,820
Cash to close
$84,893
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$3,043a month
Down payment
$55,365
Cash to close
$66,438
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Johnston
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$3,320
$12,919
$362,415
7.18%
FHA MIP · $163
$23,992
580
Conventional, 5% down
$3,252
$18,455
$350,645
7.18%
PMI · $175
$29,528
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,702
$73,820
$295,280
7.18%
None
$84,893
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$3,043
$55,365
$313,735
8.18%
None
$66,438
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Johnston is $1,338 a month: 16% above the county. In Johnston, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Polk County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,360 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.15 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Polk County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,102
$21.19
$44,080
1 bedroom
$1,145
$22.02
$45,800
2 bedrooms
$1,360
$26.15
$54,400
3 bedrooms
$1,856
$35.69
$74,240
4 bedrooms
$1,901
$36.56
$76,040
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Johnston
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Johnston is in ZIP code 50131.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,540: $180 more than the fair market rent for Polk County ($1,360).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Johnston, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
50131
$1,250
$1,300
$1,540
$2,100
$2,150
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
50131 $1,540$2,100
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Johnston when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Polk County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Johnston or Polk County. The ones below are statewide in Iowa: they work in Johnston the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Iowa state authority's FirstHome mortgage, a first-time buyer can get a second loan of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or up to 5% (maximum $15,000), with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
Iowa state authority second loan, with the Homes for Iowans mortgage, of up to 3% of the price (maximum $10,000) or 5% (maximum $15,000) for the down payment and closing costs; no monthly payments, and for any buyer.Offered by Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Johnston or Polk County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Johnston and all of Polk County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Johnston?
The typical home value in Johnston is $369,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Polk County it is $262,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Johnston?
Typical rent in Johnston is $1,338 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Polk County is $1,360.
What is the FHA loan limit in Johnston?
Johnston uses the FHA limit for all of Polk County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Johnston?
The typical homeowner in Johnston pays $6,577 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.78% of the home’s value; in Polk County, the rate is 1.68%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Johnston?
There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Polk County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
