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Johnson County

IA · Pop. 154,881 · Mixed County

25/100Homestead Score

Johnson County sits in Iowa across 613 square miles, home to 154,881 people at 252.7 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $293,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.56%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.9°F and average winter lows of 16.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 36.3 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is 2.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.56%
Growing Season: 172 days
Broadband: 99.4%
Density: 252.7/sq mi

Pros

  • Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, with an emergency room, is just 2.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • A low unemployment rate of 2.7% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.56% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.

At a glance

Johnson County, IA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
25/100
Median home price
$293k
Property tax
1.56%
Growing season
172 days (zone 5b)
Annual rainfall
36.3"
Broadband
99.4%
Nearest hospital
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 2.3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.56%
Median Household Income$74,721
Poverty Rate16.7%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$293K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone5b
Growing Season172 days
Annual Rainfall36.3 inches
Avg Summer High82.9°F
Avg Winter Low16.7°F
Top CropsCorn, Soybeans, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought9/10
Wildfire7/10
Tornado10/10
Flood8/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (2.3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities6

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.4%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate2.7%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Johnson County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Johnson County?
Johnson County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.9°F, and average winter lows of 16.7°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $293,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.56%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is 2.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 6 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.