From homes to community spaces, Johnston is breaking ground
Johnston is one of the newest neighbors to the Des Moines Area, sprawling on its northwest corner. “As we focus on housing development, we also need to continue to focus on being a destination as a suburb here in the Des Moines metro,” says Josh Laraby, Economic Development Director for the City of Johnston. “We want to be a part of the bigger metro area while still providing that hometown or small-town feel.” Johnston is also one of a few communities bordering Saylorville Lake, Des Moines’ destination for motorboating and water sports. Camp Dodge, a military training center and headquarters of the Iowa National Guard, has been in the area since 1908.
Homes in Central Johnston tend toward larger single family designs.
Central Johnston boasts homes in a variety of architectural styles.
The Johnston Public Library in Central Johnston is the perfect place for a quiet afternoon.
The neighborhood of Westridge is sought-after and continuing to grow.
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Subdivisions built from the 1970s through the present day
The median home price in Johnston is about $370,000, just below the national average and similar to nearby suburbs like Grimes and Urbandale. “There is some infill, but the majority of growth is outside the existing subdivisions,” Laraby says. “Johnston is primarily single-family, and we have townhomes going in as well. We’ve not seen a multifamily development in quite some time.” The city’s oldest homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s in what is now Central Johnston. Builders carved single-family homes and townhouses into the surrounding land throughout the early- to mid-2000s. The largest custom homes sit close to Saylorville Lake or on the outskirts in Westridge, while new tract home constructions fronted by freshly planted saplings are on the west side of the city.
Central Johnston is a peaceful suburban community.
The new development on the north side of Westridge is centered around a park and pond.
The largest homes of Westridge have exterior amenities that are second-to-none.
East Johnston is a beautiful, walkable neighborhood.
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Dining and shopping options on Merle Hay Road
The majority of Johnston’s restaurants and big brands are centered on Merle Hay Road, the city’s main north-south thoroughfare. Though options are still limited—the city opened its first free-standing Starbucks in 2024—more businesses arrive as the space becomes available. A crucial development piece in progress is the Johnston Town Center, a mixed-use development that serves as a home base for dining, shopping and outdoor play. Though the center will have waves of construction through the next several years, several businesses are already open.
Fast food restaurants such as Freddy's Steakburgers are plentiful and nearby Westridge as well.
B-Bops is a local burger chain that serves up classic burgers, fries, and shakes.
Destination Grill near Herrold is a sleek lunch and dinner spot.
Westridge residents can choose from several nearby grocery stores, including HyVee and Walmart.
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Year-round recreation at The Yard and bike trails throughout Johnston
Johnson Town Center developments look out over The Yard, an open space just west of the city hall. The space includes a splash pad in the summer and an ice rink in the winter. “We want it to be a destination for residents to spend time, not just a commercial area,” Laraby says. “That's why it's called ‘The Yard.’ If someone wants to set up a volleyball net there, they can.” Boat launches jut out onto Saylorville Lake and Terra Lake, a smaller body of water on the city’s south end. Forty-five miles of walking and biking trails trace through Terra Park and other recreational spaces, connecting to the wider Des Moines Area network. Just north of the Hyperion Field Club is the free-admission Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge.
Beaver Creek Natural Resource Center runs all around Southwest Johnston
Terra Park just in Southwest Johnston boasts a beautiful lake.
Greenwood Hills park boasts a fishing pier and trails in the middle of Southwest Johnston.
Johnston Town Center is a bustling hub of entertainment and amenities in Central Johnston.
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From Kites on the Green to Family Fest
The Yard at Johnston Commons regularly hosts activities organized by local businesses and churches. “It’s also become a destination for summer concerts,” says Janet Wilwerding, Communications Director for the City of Johnston. “The last one brought in around 2,000 people. It’s all free to the public to come out and have a good time. We also have Movies in the Yard, and a summer farmers market on Tuesday evenings.” The summer sky fills with color during Kites on the Green at Johnston Commons.
Johnston’s four-school education pathway
Niche gives the Johnston Community School District an A-minus rating, placing it at No. 5 in a ranking of the 18 school districts in the Des Moines Area. Students are zoned for one of five elementary schools and attend Summit Middle School for sixth and seventh grade before graduating to Johnson Middle School for eighth and ninth grade. Tenth through 12th graders at Johnston High School can get a head start on higher education with dual enrollment credits at Des Moines Area Community College.
Wallace Elementary School serves students in the Herrold neighborhood.
Johnston Senior High School entrance.
Many middle schools in Herrold can attend Johnston Middle School.
Summit Middle School serves students in grades 6-7.
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Navigating Des Moines Area freeways and buses
Johnston has corporate offices for the agriscience firm Corteva and John Deere. Other major employers are located 9 miles away in downtown Des Moines or in surrounding suburbs like West Des Moines and Ankeny. Drivers can exit onto Interstate 35 right from Merle Hay Road and circle the metro area. Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority buses arrive at Johnston City Hall and the Johnson Public Library, with connections to UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Drake University and other hotspots. Flights take off at Des Moines International Airport, 12 miles to the south.
Crime tracking and flood mitigation in Johnston
The Johnston Police Department noted an uptick in crimes against persons between 2022 and 2023 in their most recent annual report, though both violent and property crimes remain far below the state and national averages here. The City of Johnston also works year after year on stormwater management projects to prevent flash flooding and water contamination along Beaver Creek, which can cause property damage like erosion of backyards. Businesses and homes close to the Saylorville Reservoir are also susceptible to flooding, most recently in 2010.
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