Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Johnston, IA

    Is Johnston a good place to live?

    Watch Johnston

    Johnston ranks #2 of 20 Iowa cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (75/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $346,200
    +4.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,288
    per month
    Household income
    $103,430
    median
    Unemployment
    1.8%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Johnston

    The median home value in Johnston is $346,200 and median rent is $1,288 a month, against a median household income of $103,430. Homes cost about 3.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Johnston crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Iowa the 2025 rate was 238 violent and 1,205 property crimes per 100,000 people — #40 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Johnston, IA

    Johnston has about 24,196 residents, 1.8% unemployment and 37% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Johnston with

    Johnston vs Des MoinesJohnston vs Cedar RapidsJohnston vs DavenportJohnston vs Sioux CityJohnston vs Iowa CityJohnston vs AnkenyJohnston vs West Des MoinesJohnston vs Waterloo

    More: Where to move in Iowa · Best counties in Iowa

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report