Central Johnston
Suburban Neighborhood in Johnston, Iowa
Polk County 50131
Residential homes in Johnston
Primarily comprised of ranch-style and Colonial Revival homes, properties in Central Johnston sit on sizeable, landscaped front lawns with leafy trees that shade the sidewalks. A 2,700-square-foot, single-family home with three bedrooms can be listed from about $400,000 to $550,000. “The home value in the Johnston area continues to trend upward; although the homes have longer days on the market, we are still seeing multiple offers coming in for listings,” says Steenhoek.Area parks in Johnston
The 200-acre Terra Park is at the heart of Central Johnson, providing residents with scenic trails, a grassy outdoor event space for concerts and celebrations, a playground and a fishing pier at Terra Lake for anglers. Lew Clarkson Park, which is adjacent to Beaver Creek, is connected to the Green Meadows West Trail and the Beaver Creek Greenbelt Trail for casual strolls or hikes. There is also a nine-hole disc golf course near the park’s wooded area for enthusiastic players.Johnston Community School District
Prospective schools include Henry A. Wallace Elementary School and Johnston Middle School, both of which have an overall A score from Niche. Johnston High School has an A-minus rating and, with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), offers a dual-enrollment program for students interested in careers such as business, health sciences, design and engineering.Local celebrations in Johnston
Johnston Green Days is an annual festival that takes place at Terra Park with carnival rides, parades and a business Expo. The Green Festival at Johnston Commons Park is another yearly celebration featuring kite-building, kite flying, live music and fun for the entire family. Closer to the city, the 11-day Iowa State Fair takes place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds with carnival rides, live performances and shows, nearly 100 food vendors and 1 million visitors. Additional celebrations include the World Food and Music Festival offering cuisine from 26 countries, the two-day 80/35 Music Festival featuring artists from around the world and the Des Moines Arts Festival.Navigating Johnston and Des Moines
While the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) provides bus routes for areas of Des Moines, not every neighborhood has an accessible bus stop. Central Johnston remains a car-dependent community for daily and work commutes. Medical clinics such as UnityPoint Health – Johnston and Mercy One – Johnston are in the neighborhood, and UnityPoint Health – Iowa Lutheran Hospital is about 10 miles away. The Des Moines International Airport is about 15 miles to the south, and Interstate 80 and Interstate 35 lead into Chicago and Minneapolis, respectively.Shopping and dining on Merle Hay Road
The neighborhood’s nearest grocery store Hy-Vee is along Greendale Road, and staple restaurants like the upscale Trostel’s Greenbriar are on Merle Hay Road. For casual fare, visit the Cactus Bob’s BBQ Corral, which is often praised for authentic briskets and longhorn barbeque dishes. For shopping and entertainment, head 2 miles south to the Merle Hay Mall, which is complete with a movie theater, a bowling alley and over 90 fashion labels and restaurants. Big-box retailers such as Target and Kohl’s are also at the mall.

Agents Specializing in this Area
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Andrew Bruellman
RE/MAX Concepts
(515) 575-2183
241 Total Sales
1 in Central Johnston
$502,100 Price
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Angela Mckenzie
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Concepts
(515) 305-2422
601 Total Sales
1 in Central Johnston
$282,500 Price
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Cy Phillips
Responds QuicklySpace Simply
(515) 393-2710
607 Total Sales
1 in Central Johnston
$301,000 Price
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Misty Darling
Responds QuicklyBH&G Real Estate Innovations
(515) 400-0153
1,907 Total Sales
1 in Central Johnston
$267,000 Price
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Stephanie Wright
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Precision
(515) 305-3829
229 Total Sales
1 in Central Johnston
$270,000 Price
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Ingrid Williams
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Concepts
(515) 461-8070
1,270 Total Sales
6 in Central Johnston
$294K - $458K Price Range
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Central Johnston | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 3 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
Robbery | 3 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Central Johnston Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Central Johnston, Johnston sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Central Johnston, Johnston over the last 12 months is $322,450, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods

A growing suburb west of Johnston Town Center and 15 miles from Des Moines.

Trails and trestles bring neighbors together in a Des Moines suburb

Quiet suburban community with award-winning schools minutes north of Des Moines

Suburban community with access to parks and other outdoor recreation

Growing neighborhood is 5 miles from Johnston, 20 miles from Des Moines