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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Johnston, IA Housing Affordability Index

Johnston, Iowa has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 106.3 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 875th most affordable of 891 scored Iowa cities, compared with 126.4 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $369,100 home with 20% down, the Iowa average 30-year fixed rate of 7.17% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,998, or 23% of the city’s $106,551 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Johnston is updated every night from live Iowa mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Johnston MBR-HAI 106.3 Near National Average
Rank in Iowa 875 of 891 1 = most affordable
Iowa 126.4 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.17% Iowa lenders
Median home value $369,100 U.S. Census Bureau

Johnston is 20.1 points below the Iowa score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Iowa index

View Johnston Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Johnston

$1,998/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.17%
$85,600
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$106,551
Median Household Income
Iowa: $75,059
3.5x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Iowa: 2.8x
$1,801/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$7,212/yr
Median Property Tax
1.95% of median value
16.5%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
45.3%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Johnston, Iowa. The rate is the Iowa average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Johnston Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Johnston, Iowa score: 106.3 (Near National Average), ranked 875 of 891 Iowa cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/iowa/johnston”