Grimes 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 | Grimes | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $351,743 | $403,139 |
| Value change, past year | -0.4% | +0.6% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,435 | $1,382 |
| Homes for sale | 94 | 125 |
| Median days to pending | 23 days | 19 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 25% | 24% |
| Median household income | $120,037 | $106,551 |
| Homeownership | 71% | 71% |
| Population | 16,366 | 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
- Grimes is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 13% 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 Johnston, so expect to move quicker there and to have a bit more room to negotiate in Grimes.
- Grimes has the higher median household income of the two.
- Johnston is substantially larger than Grimes — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Grimes
Fast-growing northwest suburb with heavy new construction and small-town roots.
Johnston
Quiet, established, and anchored by a well-regarded school district near Saylorville Lake.
Schools
Grimes: Primarily the Dallas Center–Grimes Community School District, with some areas in Johnston or Woodward–Granger. Boundaries move with growth — verify by address.
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
Grimes: Northwest metro via Highway 141 and I-35/80; roughly 20–25 minutes to downtown depending on the route.
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.