CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Johnston

Iowa · 4,702 residents · 19.5 sq mi

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The short version

Johnston is a city of 4,702 people in Iowa. That is roughly 64% ahead of the Iowa median. The population has fallen 46% since 2000. This is an unusually credentialed place: 34% of adults have a four-year degree. Median household income runs $43,036, well clear of the $30,130 US median. The poverty rate is 5.4%, under the national 13.2%.

At a glance

Wealthier

above the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 35.1

US median: 33.0

More educated

34% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 33%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

4,702

−46%vs 2000

vs 8,649 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

35.1

−3%vs 2000

vs 36.3 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

19.5 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202424K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56%(281)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 97.8%(368)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 147.8%(369)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 196.5%(305)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 245.3%(249)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3416.3%(766)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4418.8%(885)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411.3%(530)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 648.1%(383)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 745.7%(266)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 843.4%(159)

US avg: 4%

85 and over3%(141)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$43,036

−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $76,094 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$19,685

−46%vs 2000

vs $36,407 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

5.4%

+1.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 4.1% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$96,000

−33%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $187,400 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$573

+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $727 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

63.7%

−10.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 74.0% in 2000

36.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic95.3%(8,246)

Black0.6%(50)

Hispanic / Latino1.5%(132)

Asian2%(171)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic98.8%(4,645)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino1.3%(61)

Asian0.5%(22)

Other0.7%(35)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican1.9%(461)

South American0.4%(105)

Argentine0.4%(90)

Spaniard0.1%(29)

Puerto Rican0.1%(25)

Central American0%(11)

Salvadoran0%(10)

Venezuelan0%(10)

Colombian0%(5)

Honduran0%(1)

Asian origin

Asian Indian3%(738)

Chinese2.5%(621)

Filipino0.8%(192)

Korean0.1%(30)

Pakistani0.1%(28)

Laotian0.1%(27)

Vietnamese0%(9)

Nepalese0%(1)

Pacific Islander origin

Marshallese0.1%(34)

Ancestry

German26.7%(6,516)

Irish17.1%(4,164)

English11.1%(2,718)

Subsaharan African5.6%(1,364)

Norwegian4.2%(1,021)

American3.5%(844)

Italian3.1%(758)

Swedish2.5%(602)

Polish2%(496)

Scottish1.8%(431)

Dutch1.8%(429)

French1.6%(397)

+ 23 more ancestry groups with data

Danish0.9%(230)

Russian0.9%(225)

Czech0.8%(194)

Scotch-Irish0.6%(155)

Welsh0.6%(151)

Ghanaian0.5%(113)

Austrian0.3%(84)

British0.3%(80)

Croatian0.3%(69)

Belgian0.2%(56)

Slovene0.2%(52)

Greek0.2%(50)

Hungarian0.2%(40)

Swiss0.2%(39)

Arab0.1%(31)

Finnish0.1%(22)

French Canadian0.1%(21)

Latvian0.1%(19)

Lithuanian0%(11)

Portuguese0%(9)

Lebanese0%(5)

Ukrainian0%(4)

Slovak0%(3)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Norwegian population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

33.8%

−16.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 49.9% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

92.5%

−2.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 94.7% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

12.1%

−3.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 15.3% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

17.7 min

+68%vs 2000

vs 10.5 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married24.6%(2,064)

Married68.4%(5,741)

Widowed1.6%(131)

Divorced5.5%(462)

Women 15+

Never married26.6%(2,602)

Married55.3%(5,416)

Widowed8.4%(825)

Divorced9.6%(944)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

1.7%

−3.7 ptssince 2013

from 5.4% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

71.7%

−6.9 ptssince 2020

from 78.6% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

15.0%

+3.0 ptssince 2020

from 12.0% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

15.2%

−0.1 ptssince 2020

from 15.3% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

12.6%

+4.8 ptssince 2020

from 7.8% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

2.0%

−0.9 ptssince 2020

from 2.9% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

83.8%

−4.1 ptssince 2020

from 87.9% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

27.3%

+4.5 ptssince 2020

from 22.8% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)19.8%(164)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)20.6%(171)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era22.5%(187)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War8.2%(68)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II3%(25)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 830 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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