Ankeny vs Johnston
A side-by-side look at two Des Moines metro areas buyers often weigh against each other — current values, rents, market pace, and demographics.
Side by side
| Metric | Ankeny | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $342,159 | $403,139 |
| Value change, past year | +1.3% | +0.6% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,520 | $1,382 |
| Homes for sale | 409 | 125 |
| Median days to pending | 18 days | 19 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 31% | 24% |
| Median household income | $108,198 | $106,551 |
| Homeownership | 71% | 71% |
| Population | 72,615 | 24,384 |
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year). Cheaper figure highlighted where the two differ.
What the numbers say
- Ankeny is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 15% below Johnston.
- Renting is cheaper in Johnston, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Homes go under contract faster in Ankeny, so expect to move quicker there and to have a bit more room to negotiate in Johnston.
- Ankeny is substantially larger than Johnston — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Ankeny
The north metro's growth engine — new construction, new retail, and a lot of young families.
Johnston
Quiet, established, and anchored by a well-regarded school district near Saylorville Lake.
Schools
Ankeny: Served by the Ankeny Community School District, which operates two high schools. Boundaries have shifted repeatedly with growth, so confirm for a specific address rather than a neighborhood.
Johnston: Primarily the Johnston Community School District, which is a significant part of the area's appeal to families. Edges of the city fall into neighboring districts — verify by address.
Getting around
Ankeny: Straight down I-35 to downtown Des Moines, typically 20–25 minutes outside of peak. Rush hour on I-35 southbound is the main constraint.
Johnston: Northwest metro with access via I-35/80 and Merle Hay Road; roughly 15–20 minutes to downtown outside of peak.
Figures are area-wide typicals, not a valuation of any specific home. Verify school boundaries, property taxes, and current prices by address. Not real-estate or financial advice.