ZIP Code · IA

ZIP 50131

Part of Johnston, IA

Pop. 24,583·Polk County·17th most expensive ZIP in Iowa

Median rent (all units)

$1,356/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.6%

Month-over-Month

-1.0%

vs US Median

-$576

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 50131 · $1,356

More affordable than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,220

1 BR

$1,270

2 BR

$1,510

3 BR

$2,060

4 BR+

$2,110

Research median

$1,510/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Iowa

Rent in ZIP 50131 changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($106,551) is $2,664 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,110).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 50322, 4 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,030/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 50131. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,272/yr

At $1,356/mo median

Location

CityJohnston

StateIA

CountyPolk County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.6% YoY, -1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 50131 (Johnston, IA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 57.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,583

Median income

$106,551

Median age

37.5

Renters

28.9%

Age distribution

30.3%

16.1%

28.8%

15.5%

Under 1830.3%

18–3416.1%

35–5428.8%

55–649.2%

65+15.5%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

76.7%

White76.7%

Black10.5%

Hispanic2.7%

Asian7.2%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

13.8%

25.4%

57.7%

No HS diploma3.2%

HS diploma13.8%

Some college25.4%

Bachelor's+57.7%

Housing tenure

71.1%

28.9%

Owner71.1%

Renter28.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 50131 in Johnston, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$92,743 → $106,551

up 14.9%

Population

23,577 → 24,583

up 4.3%

Renter share

29.2% → 28.9%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

54.7% → 57.7%

+3.0 pts

Household income in the area moved from $92,743 to $106,551 across the same window, up 14.9% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 23,577 to 24,583 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 54.7% to 57.7%.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 50131

About renting in ZIP 50131

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 50131 covers Johnston, IA. The median rent here is $1,356/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,270/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,510/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($106,551/yr), ZIP 50131 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 50131?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,356/mo in ZIP 50131. The local median household income is $106,551/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 50131?

Rent in ZIP 50131 has risen 1.6% over the past year.

How does ZIP 50131 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?

ZIP 50131 is one of the pricier among Iowa ZIP codes for rent, ranking #17 of 54 at $1,356/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 50131 changed +1.6%, against a typical +4.3% across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks.