Johnston, IA · standard
ZIP Code 50131
Polk County, Iowa - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 17,499
- 314/sq mi High-density area
- $106,551
- Median income Above-median income area
- $369,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 57.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Johnston pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 15%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 314
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 50131 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 50131 (Johnston, IA) fell -1.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 186.8 in 2023 to 184.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 50131 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Johnston, Polk County, Iowa, home to 17,499 residents across 55.7 square miles, a density of 314 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 50131 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $106,551 (39% above the average Iowa ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,553. The poverty rate is 10.1%, with unemployment at 2.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $369,400 (110% above the average Iowa ZIP), while 71.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,338.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 57.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.5, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Polk County, so 50131 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 50131
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Johnston, IA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 50131.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
89 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
83 establishments
- Construction
Construction
82 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
69 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
56 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 50131, Johnston, IA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
17,499
Population
55.7
Area (sq mi)
314
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 50131?
37.5
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
9.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$106,551
Median Household Income
+39% vs state ZIP avg
$57,553
Per Capita Income
10.1%
Poverty Rate
2.1%
Unemployment Rate
19.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 50131 ranks among Iowa ZIPs
Johnston, IA household income vs. every Iowa ZIP code
Median household income among 911 reporting Iowa ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$106,551 Top 8% higher than 92% of 911 Iowa ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Iowa ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,822housing units
9,822
Total Housing Units
9,361
Occupied Units
461
Vacant Units
2.60
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$369,400
Median Home Value
+110% vs state ZIP avg
$1,338
Median Rent
2004
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-1.1%
YoY Change (2024)
185
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+85%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 50131 have decreased 1.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +85% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.0% | 139 |
| 2021 | +8.3% | 150 |
| 2022 | +12.6% | 169 |
| 2023 | +10.6% | 187 |
| 2024 | -1.1% | 185 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 671 business establishments in ZIP 50131, employing approximately 15,205 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,323,181,000.
671
Businesses
15,205
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 89 | 13.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 83 | 12.4% |
| Construction | 82 | 12.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 69 | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 56 | 8.3% |
| Retail trade | 54 | 8.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 51 | 7.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 40 | 6.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 37 | 5.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 36 | 5.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 3.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 11 | 1.6% |
| Information | 9 | 1.3% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 1.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 50131 vs 50322 →
ZIP 50131 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50322
Urbandale (50322)
31,530 residents
- 50310
Des Moines (50310)
30,221 residents
- 50023
Ankeny (50023)
27,986 residents
- 50131
Johnston (50131)
17,499 residents
- 50313
Des Moines (50313)
17,376 residents
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
15,339 residents
- 50311
Des Moines (50311)
15,113 residents
- 50323 10,201
Urbandale (50323)
10,201 residents
- 50111 9,407
Grimes (50111)
9,407 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 50131 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 50131 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 50323
Urbandale (50323)
$175,944 median income
- 50226
Polk City (50226)
$153,011 median income
- 50111
Grimes (50111)
$120,769 median income
- 50023
Ankeny (50023)
$117,826 median income
- 50131
Johnston (50131)
$106,551 median income
- 50312
Des Moines (50312)
$92,242 median income
- 50322
Urbandale (50322)
$92,085 median income
- 50324
Windsor Heights (50324)
$91,707 median income
- 50310
Des Moines (50310)
$76,381 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 50131 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50322 | Urbandale, IA | 31,530 | 4.2 mi |
| 50111 | Grimes, IA | 9,407 | 4.5 mi |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights, IA | 4,903 | 6.2 mi |
| 50310 | Des Moines, IA | 30,221 | 5.1 mi |
| 50226 | Polk City, IA | 4,724 | 6.9 mi |
| 50023 | Ankeny, IA | 27,986 | 5.2 mi |
| 50313 | Des Moines, IA | 17,376 | 5.6 mi |
| 50311 | Des Moines, IA | 15,113 | 6.8 mi |
| 50312 | Des Moines, IA | 15,339 | 8.1 mi |
| 50323 | Urbandale, IA | 10,201 | 6.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 50131, both outside IA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (17,499 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Polk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 50131 in?
ZIP code 50131 (Johnston) is located in Polk County, Iowa. Polk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/polk-ia.
What is the population of ZIP code 50131?
ZIP code 50131 in Johnston, IA has a population of 17,499 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 50131?
The median household income in ZIP 50131 is $106,551, which is 40% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 50131?
The median home value in ZIP 50131 is $369,400, which is 33% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 50131?
The largest racial group in ZIP 50131 is White at 76.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 50131?
ZIP code 50131 has 671 business establishments employing approximately 15,205 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 50131?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 50131 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (89), Health care and social assistance (83), Construction (82). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 50131?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 50131 decreased by 1.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 85%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 50131?
In ZIP code 50131, 71.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 57.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 50131?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 50131 is 19.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 50131?
In ZIP code 50131, approximately 71.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 50131?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 50131 is 10.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 50131's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 50131 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Johnston, IA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.