Clive 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 | Clive | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $434,028 | $403,139 |
| Value change, past year | +0.6% | +0.6% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,524 | $1,382 |
| Homes for sale | 91 | 125 |
| Median days to pending | — | 19 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 29% | 24% |
| Median household income | $132,121 | $106,551 |
| Homeownership | 75% | 71% |
| Population | 19,012 | 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
- Johnston is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 7% below Clive.
- Renting is cheaper in Johnston, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Clive has the higher median household income of the two.
- Johnston is substantially larger than Clive — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Clive
A quiet, well-kept residential community wrapped around the Greenbelt Trail.
Johnston
Quiet, established, and anchored by a well-regarded school district near Saylorville Lake.
Schools
Clive: Split among several districts — primarily West Des Moines and Waukee, with some areas in Dallas Center–Grimes. The district can change block to block, so verify carefully.
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
Clive: Sits right along the I-35/80 corridor and University Ave; central enough for an easy commute across the metro.
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.