Des Moines, IA vs Johnston, IA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricDes Moines, IAJohnston, IA
Population212,42124,384
Median Household Income$65,932$106,551
Median Rent$1,090/mo$1,338/mo
Median Home Value$194,700$369,100
Cost of Living (US = 100)9292
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income46.6%45.3%
Poverty Rate15%10.2%
Unemployment Rate4.2%3.1%
Violent Crime Rate /100k64283
Property Crime Rate /100k2,838676
Median AQI4444
Good AQI Days /yr224224
Summer Highs84°F83°F
Winter Lows17°F16°F
Snowfall37 in/yr38 in/yr
Avg Commute19.5 min19.7 min
Hospitals4—
Avg Hospital Rating2.8 / 5—
Students per Teacher15.917
College Degree Rate29.7%57.8%
Foreign-Born %14.2%9.5%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%+4.7%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.