The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 50131 sells for about $288,834, or $211 per square foot.
Prices are roughly flat from a year ago (-0.4%), a market in balance. Homes take about 27 days to sell, which is fast. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,212 a month.
This ZIP has no home sales of its own, so its market figures come from Polk County, Iowa (county-level). Population, rents, hazards, lending and amenities are this ZIP's own readings.
ZIP 50131 — Johnston
The 50131 housing market remains stable with high demand driven by the area's strong school district and corporate employment base. While year-over-year prices have seen a slight correction, the market maintains a balanced inventory level and healthy sale-to-list ratios. Overall, the area continues to attract families and professionals looking for long-term stability.
This ZIP is ideal for families and professionals seeking a suburban lifestyle with high-performing schools, proximity to major corporate employers, and a balance of modern amenities.
Median prices moved down 0.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 27 days on market with 2.3 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
22% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.9% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.1% · poverty 10.1% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 50131, Polk County IA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Johnston is generally considered a safe, family-oriented suburb with crime rates significantly lower than the Des Moines city average.
The area is served by the highly-rated Johnston Community School District, which is frequently recognized for academic excellence and strong student performance.
The region faces standard Midwestern climate risks, including severe thunderstorms and occasional flooding near the Des Moines River; property insurance remains stable but sensitive to storm-related claims.
Johnston serves as a major corporate hub, hosting the global headquarters of John Deere Financial and Pioneer Hi-Bred, driving consistent economic momentum and infrastructure investment.
Property taxes are assessed by Polk County based on local millage rates, which include levies for the school district, city, and county services; no state income tax exemptions apply to residential property.
Residents typically commute via I-35/I-80, providing a direct 15-20 minute drive to downtown Des Moines.
The area features extensive access to the Des Moines River, the Beaver Creek greenbelt, and numerous parks including Terra Park and the Johnston Commons.
The rental market is characterized by low vacancy rates and steady demand, driven by the area's proximity to major employers and high-quality school district.
The economy is anchored by the agricultural-tech and financial services sectors, with major employers like John Deere and Corteva Agriscience (Pioneer) providing a stable employment base.
The area is well-connected by the I-35/I-80 corridor, facilitating efficient regional travel and access to the Des Moines metro area.
The city is focused on expanding the Town Center and improving infrastructure along the Merle Hay Road corridor to support continued growth.
The Polk County Assessor manages property valuations, utilizing a biennial assessment cycle to reflect market value changes.
Parcels are subject to Johnston Community School District taxes and various utility service districts.
Property insurance premiums are moderate, reflecting the area's low risk for major natural disasters compared to coastal regions.
Iowa continues to see modest net domestic migration, with suburban areas like Johnston attracting families from within the state and the Midwest.
Iowa is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court intervention for the foreclosure process, which typically provides a longer timeline for homeowners.
Iowa law requires sellers to provide a written disclosure statement regarding the condition of the property to potential buyers.
Data retrieved from Census Bureau ZCTA profile for 50131.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A major community park featuring a lake, trails, and recreational facilities.
A central hub for local retail, dining, and community events.
Provides extensive greenbelt trails and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Deterministic aggregate of 1 researched property in this ZIP (latest reading each) — each property weighs one; per point, properties lacking the value are excluded. Property-level records (taxes, scores, permits) never roll individually.
No county-record distress flags across 1 researched property on the ARED base layer. Key-figure check: median price diverges 19.0% from the nearest retained anchor (researched-property base layer) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Validation: the flagged $350,000 could not be independently corroborated and was removed pending review (no prior-cycle value to revert to); the case is under review in the Command Center.