Population 156,639 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Johnson County
Household size in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Johnson County run small, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.33, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.9 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.9 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.6, Johnson County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 32.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Iowa counties are younger: only two of 99.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Johnson County: 6.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, as it has nationally. Johnson County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Iowa counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Johnson County
Renters in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.4% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.6% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Johnson County rent their homes (40.6%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 38.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.0 points, as it has nationally. Only one other Iowa county has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Johnson County: 7.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Johnson County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Iowa counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Johnson County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1989, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing. Only one other Iowa county has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $781 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $913 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $988 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,205 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$424 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Johnson County pays $1,205 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Iowa as a whole ($1,020). Rents are up $424 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Johnson County
Bachelor's degrees in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Johnson County: 55.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Iowa county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.1% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Johnson County: 96.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only eight have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Johnson County
| Period | Johnson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Johnson County runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Johnson County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 2.40 | 34.6 | 6.9% | 40.6% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,205 | 55.7% | 96.1% | 3.8% |
| Cedar County | 2.42 | 44.8 | 10.1% | 18.5% | 9.2% | 1967 | $916 | 23.7% | 95.8% | 2.2% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 43.5 | 9.6% | 23.4% | 5.9% | 1967 | $775 | 25.3% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Scott County | 2.39 | 40.1 | 10.8% | 30.0% | 7.7% | 1972 | $1,235 | 37.3% | 93.6% | 3.5% |
| Poweshiek County | 2.19 | 41.2 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 11.7% | 1965 | $881 | 28.4% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 27.7% | 9.6% | 1964 | $870 | 20.3% | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| Whiteside County | 2.38 | 43.6 | 12.5% | 23.1% | 11.5% | 1961 | $937 | 20.3% | 91.9% | 4.4% |
| Polk County | 2.51 | 37.0 | 12.0% | 32.6% | 6.9% | 1981 | $1,241 | 40.5% | 91.7% | 5.0% |
| Dallas County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 8.1% | 31.0% | 5.9% | 2000 | $1,300 | 52.3% | 95.5% | 2.3% |
| Guthrie County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 7.7% | 16.0% | 19.7% | 1962 | $825 | 24.9% | 95.8% | 3.1% |
| Kendall County | 3.09 | 36.4 | 12.2% | 16.0% | 3.9% | 1997 | $1,934 | 36.6% | 94.1% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Jackson County, MI · Rankin County, MS · Rensselaer County, NY · Santa Fe County, NM · Monroe County, MI · Alexandria City, VA · St. Clair County, MI · Stafford County, VA · Sullivan County, TN · Kings County, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Johnson County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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