The typical owner-occupied home in Johnston is worth about $369,100, 77% above the Iowa median of $208,000 and 11% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,577 a year in property taxes, about 1.78% of their home's value, higher than the Iowa rate of 1.39%. The median household earns $106,551 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (2.8 times for Iowa). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Johnston at a glance
| Johnston | Iowa | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $369,100 | $208,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $6,577 | $2,897 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.78% | 1.39% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $106,551 | $75,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 71% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 59% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,361 | $1,533 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.6% | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,338 | $972 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 28.3% | 27.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 2004 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.7% | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 24,384 | 3,210,507 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Johnston
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Johnston home of $369,100 with 20% down costs about $2,688 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,303, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $115,185 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median Johnston household income of $106,551; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $341,000.
The median rent here is $1,338 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,350 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $73,820 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $295,280 |
| Principal and interest | $1,986 |
| Property taxes (1.78% a year) | $548 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $154 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,688 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $12,918 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $362,415 |
| Principal and interest | $2,438 |
| Property taxes (1.78% a year) | $548 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $154 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $163 |
| Total per month | $3,303 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Johnston
What is the median home value in Johnston?
About $369,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Johnston?
Homeowners pay a median $6,577 a year, which is about 1.78% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Johnston?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,688 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $115,185 a year.
More about Johnston
- Mortgage Refinance in Johnston
- Debt Relief in Johnston
- Home Equity Loans in Johnston
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data