Northwest Johnston
Suburban Neighborhood in Johnston, Iowa
Polk County 50111, 50131
New and established suburbs near Beaver Creek Elementary
Ridgedale Heights’ new development on the northwest corner of the neighborhood is brimming with building and buying opportunities. These contemporary, two-story townhomes with three bedrooms are built by Goldstar Townhomes & Villas. They often share walls and are priced around $250,000. Single-family Craftsman and modern ranch-style homes with three or more bedrooms cost around $350,000 or more. Ridgedale Heights is also part of a homeowners’ association, with an estimated $175 annual fee. Established suburban homes without HOAs in the Beaver Creek Elementary School zone have been valued at over $400,000, with large driveways, two-car garages, and generally spacious backyards.Fishing, walking, and biking around Northwest Johnston
Pointe Vista Park offers open green spaces and long sidewalk trails. The park includes a basketball court, and the on-site playground is near a small lake. Northwest Johnston is near Terra Park, which hosts annual festivals and includes walking trails, a playground and modern art. Rent kayaks and paddle around Terra Lake, or fish from the dock. "Johnston also includes access to the Neal Smith Trail, the Sycamore Trail and the Trestle Trail," Rohlf says. "Johnston also has access to the first portion of the ICON Water Trails project. This provides access to the Des Moines River for kayaking, canoeing and tubing."Top-rated Johnston Community Public Schools
Students attending Beaver Creek Elementary School can walk or bike to school, while Summit Middle School, for grades six and seven, sits just 2 miles south. Johnston Senior High School, with a nationally ranked show choir, has ten tennis courts, a soccer field and the Dragon Stadium football field. All three schools scored an A-minus on Niche and are considered some of the top schools in the Johnston Community School District. Johnston Middle School, for eighth and ninth grade, scores an A on Niche and is home to the Johnston High School softball fields.Green Days at Terra Park
Johnston Town Center is home to the Johnston City Hall and The Yard, an open green gathering space with a stage for live music and a splash pad for cooling down on hot days. During winter months, weather permitting, the Johnston Commons offers a public ice rink and the annual Kites on the Green family event in May. In early June, Terra Park hosts the Johnston Green Days alongside the Johnston Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a weekend festival and town celebration with a business expo kickoff, carnival rides and food vendors,” Rohlf says.Easy commutes on Interstate 235
Both businesses and housing are beginning to boom in Northwest Johnston, but it’s still easy to get around. Northwest Johnston “is right off the interstate,” Rohlf says. “It’s easy to get around if you are trying to get from the suburbs to Des Moines, and everything else is usually just a 10-to-30-minute drive.” Most residents in Northwest Johnston get around on Interstate 235 or travel up and down Merle Hay Road for everyday errands. 86th Street is becoming a popular commercial spot for businesses looking to put down roots, and 62nd Avenue connects it with Merle Hay Road.Food and fun on Merle Hay Road
“We have seen restaurants grow in Johnston as well,” Rohlf says. “One great example is Wasabi CHI - they just recently had their ribbon cutting with the Chamber as they moved into a larger space.” Flame the Taqueria is a unique restaurant with tasty street tacos. For an evening out, Trostel’s Greenbriar is an upscale restaurant with signature steaks like their gunpowder ribeye and slow-roasted prime rib. For a quick meal, Charlotte’s Kitchen offers chicken sandwiches, root beer floats and French fries – both from their dine-in location and the Charlotte’s Kitchen food truck. On 86th Street is Jethro's BBQ n' Pork Chop Grill, a popular restaurant and bar with six other locations around the Des Moines metropolitan area. “In late March or early April, Van Dee’s Ice Cream Shoppe opens up. It's definitely a Johnston staple,” Rohlf says. Van Dee’s serves sundaes, soft-serve ice cream, burgers and sandwiches.Johnston’s riverways and lakes
Beaver Creek on the east side of town, though picturesque, has been reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as impacted by bacteria that may make it unsafe for swimming and boating. Likewise, the EPA has listed Saylorville Reservoir as being impacted due to murky waters.

Agents Specializing in this Area
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Ginger Atcheson
Real Estate Property Solutions, LLC
(515) 400-3340
186 Total Sales
1 in Northwest Johnston
$445,000 Price
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Jill Budden
RE/MAX Concepts
(515) 461-8462
311 Total Sales
1 in Northwest Johnston
$450,000 Price
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Katey Farrell
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 400-4175
58 Total Sales
1 in Northwest Johnston
$445,000 Price
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Liz Lashier
NextHome Your Way
(515) 512-4526
122 Total Sales
3 in Northwest Johnston
$295K - $380K Price Range
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Andrew Bruellman
RE/MAX Concepts
(515) 575-2183
241 Total Sales
4 in Northwest Johnston
$290K - $850K Price Range
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Lisa Li
Realty ONE Group Impact
(515) 400-3093
13 Total Sales
1 in Northwest Johnston
$285,000 Price
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 | Northwest Johnston | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 2 | 4 |
Burglary | 2 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
Larceny | 3 | 4 |
Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Northwest Johnston Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Northwest Johnston, Johnston sell after 72 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Northwest Johnston, Johnston over the last 12 months is $394,990, up 1% 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 Owners
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.
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