Southwest Johnston
Suburban Neighborhood in Johnston, Iowa
Polk County 50111, 50131
Quiet streets, shade trees and modern properties
Southwest Johnston has a suburban atmosphere — quiet, concrete streets lined with large trees and homes with green lawns and wide, two-car driveways. Most homes feature outdoor living spaces and built-in fireplaces for the warm summers and long winters, and large attached garages provide plenty of room for cars and toys. Homebuyers choose from various housing options, including townhouses ranging in price from the mid-$100,000s to the high $200,000s. Midcentury-style, Colonial and Contemporary Craftsman are some of the most popular styles, with prices starting in the low $300,000s and peaking in the mid-$500,000s as square footage and acreage grow. Luxury estates on sweeping stretches of land are also available and fall between the high $500,000s and $1 million mark. “Buyers should be patient for the right house to open up,” advises Scott Wendl, a broker with Re/Max Precision. “With that level of variety, it might take a minute to find the perfect house that ticks all the boxes.”
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Little League tournaments at Lew Clarkson Park
Lew Clarkson Park is a 55-acre multi-use recreation area on the banks of Beaver Creek featuring playground equipment, sports fields, a disc golf course, walking trails and a covered park shelter. The park hosts the Johnston Little League, and food trucks line the parking lots during weekend tournaments. Adventure Ridge Park is on the community’s western edge, providing playgrounds, walking trails and open fields for sandlot-style baseball and football games. Residents can scale the walls at Climb Iowa, an indoor climbing gym for rock climbers of all ages and skill levels in the neighboring Grimes community.
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Top schools serve Southwest Johnston students
Students begin their education at Timber Ridge Elementary before advancing to Summit Middle School, which serves students in grades 6 and 7. Both schools have an A-minus rating from Niche. From there, they’ll attend Johnston Middle School, which serves eighth and ninth grade students and has an A rating. Johnston Senior High School ranks among Iowa's top 15 public high schools on Niche’s 2024 List of Best Schools, boasting an A-minus rating and an average SAT score of 1350. Johnston Senior High School graduates regularly attend universities like Iowa State and the University of Iowa.
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Farmers' markets and fall yoga
Certified instructors lead Yoga by the Lake on Saturday mornings, a free class held in the fall at Terra Lake Amphitheater. The Farmer’s Market in Johnston Town Center features locally grown produce and vegetables, ethically raised meat and eggs, handmade crafts and live music, followed by Movies on the Yard, where residents spread out on blankets to watch movies like "Encanto" and "Top Gun: Maverick" on the big outdoor screen. Johnston Town Center is also home to The Yard Summer Concert Series, a free bi-monthly event featuring local and national acts.14-mile commute to downtown
Located on the banks of Beaver Creek near Saylorville Lake, Southwest Johnston sits immediately north of Highway 35, providing easy access to Interstate 80 as it passes through Des Moines on its way from Chicago to Omaha. The neighborhood is a 14-mile commute to downtown Des Moines and 12 miles from the Des Moines International Airport.
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Classic comfort food at Cozy Cafe
Department stores and shopping plazas line the commercial corridors of 86th Street and Highway 141. Fareway Meat and Grocery or Hy-Vee are nearby, and Westfield Plaza offers dozens of options for retail and restaurants alike. Cozy Cafe is a local breakfast favorite, with diner classics and all-day breakfast in its retro dining room. De Rice serves creative Thai and Japanese cuisine, while the Warehouse Pub has a friendly atmosphere with bar games and outdoor seating.
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Written By
Phil Keeling
Photography Contributed By
Dylan Stowell
Video By
Scott Wiggins
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Ginger Atcheson
Ginger Atcheson
Real Estate Property Solutions, LLC
(515) 400-3340
186 Total Sales
1 in Southwest Johnston
$238,000 Price
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Jill Budden
Jill Budden
RE/MAX Concepts
(515) 461-8462
311 Total Sales
1 in Southwest Johnston
$310,000 Price
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Katey Farrell
Katey Farrell
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 400-4175
58 Total Sales
2 in Southwest Johnston
$250K - $330K Price Range
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Liz Lashier
Liz Lashier
NextHome Your Way
(515) 512-4526
122 Total Sales
3 in Southwest Johnston
$460K - $622K Price Range
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Kris Mehmen
Kris Mehmen
RE/MAX Precision
(515) 400-4689
83 Total Sales
2 in Southwest Johnston
$274K - $340K Price Range
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Cody Greenfield
Cody Greenfield
RE/MAX Real Estate Center
(515) 686-6406
133 Total Sales
1 in Southwest Johnston
$443,800 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 10th to 12th
- Public
- 8th to 9th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Terra Park
- Fishing
- Lake
- Playground
Adventure Ridge Park
Lew Clarkson Park
Northview Park
Beaver Creek Natural Resource Center
- Bike Trails
- Trails
- Hiking
Providence Pointe Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Southwest Johnston | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Southwest Johnston Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Southwest Johnston, Johnston sell after 55 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Southwest Johnston, Johnston over the last 12 months is $335,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$344,900
Median Sale Price
$335,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$383,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$254,990
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$241,750
Median Studio Sale Price
$375,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
141
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
10%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$208
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,561
Number of Homes for Sale
28
Median Year Built
2003
Months of Supply
2.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,999
On par with the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,439
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,513
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
1,450
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,761
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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-
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$1,095 - $1,395 per month
- Adam Ridge Condos
- 2-3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 995+ Sq Ft
- 10535 Norfolk Dr
- Johnston, IA
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
Total Population
7,957
Median Age
38
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
26.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$93,303
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$120,862
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.8%
College Graduates
46.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
13.9%
% Population in Labor Force
86.3%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
11°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
30''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
35
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
36
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: 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
Northwest Johnston
A growing suburb west of Johnston Town Center and 15 miles from Des Moines.
Central Johnston
Fine suburban living in city of Johnston
North District
Suburban community with access to parks and other outdoor recreation
Westridge
Growing neighborhood is 5 miles from Johnston, 20 miles from Des Moines
Grimes
A well-planned residential community with excellent infrastructures
Urbandale
Close to city amenities yet far enough to maintain its quiet charm
Reviews
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