RANK #799 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 11 IA · POP 156,639
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
Johnson County, Iowa, stands out for its connection to Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa. The county, located in eastern Iowa, is part of the larger Iowa City metropolitan area and the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor. The landscape features rolling uplands, winding ridges, and ravines along the Iowa River, offering natural scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities at places like F.W. Kent Park and Lake Macbride State Park. Life in Johnson County is shaped by its educational institutions and healthcare providers, which are major employers. The area attracts a diverse population, including families and those seeking educational and career opportunities. The economy is driven by sectors such as education, health, and agriculture, with a focus on corn and soybean production. Recent economic development efforts in Johnson County emphasize supporting local entrepreneurship, improving infrastructure, and expanding broadband access, alongside initiatives to promote sustainability and conservation.
Johnson County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.1% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
MidAmerican Energy Solar Triangle Project
MidAmerican Energy
|
$150M | Proposed |
|
Solon Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Solon
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Replay Iowa Project (Iowa City)
Unknown
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Alpla, Inc. Learning and Development Facility (Iowa City)
Alpla, Inc.
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
CIVCO Medical Solutions Expansion (Coralville)
CIVCO Medical Solutions
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
North Park Road and Highway 6 Urbanization (Tiffin)
Unknown
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 20/100, Johnson County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $74,935 combined with job growth of +2.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Johnson County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $308,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,122/month on average.
Johnson County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.1% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.2% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.1% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 6.26% of Johnson County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.