Pros and Cons of Living in Johnston
Johnston's honest tradeoff is a real, genuine corporate-employer base and top-12 Iowa schools, set against quickly appreciating home prices and an above-Iowa-median property tax baseline.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreReal advantages
Johnston offers a real, genuine corporate-employer base (Delta Dental of Iowa's headquarters, Corteva's historic Pioneer campus soon becoming Vylor's global headquarters), a real #12-ranked Iowa school district (Niche 2026), genuinely low, disclosed crime data, and a real, affluent median household income (~$106,551, 2024).
Real tradeoffs
Johnston's home prices ran genuinely above the national median and appreciated a real, substantial 12.0% year-over-year; no Johnston-specific effective property tax rate distinct from Polk County's own above-Iowa-median rate (~1.71%) was found this pass; the school district ranking (#12) sits below several other Des Moines-metro peers; and no full inpatient hospital sits directly within Johnston itself.
The net read
For families and young professionals drawn to Johnston's real, genuine corporate-employer base and strong schools, the advantages are genuine. For the most affordability-focused or tax-sensitive buyers, the real, disclosed above-median costs are worth weighing directly.
Key takeaways
- Real pros: a genuine corporate-employer base (Delta Dental, Corteva/Vylor), a #12-ranked school district, and low disclosed crime.
- Real cons: quickly appreciating, above-national-median home prices and an above-Iowa-median property tax baseline.
- The net read favors families and young professionals prioritizing employer proximity and schools over the lowest cost.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Johnston overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert