Johnston, IA vs Urbandale, IA

Urbandale is moderately more affordable than Johnston, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Johnston scores 100 compared to 94 for Urbandale, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Johnston can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Johnston is $1,288/month compared to $1,176/month in Urbandale — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Urbandale is more affordable at $318,800 median vs $346,200.

Median household income in Johnston is $103,430 compared to $113,086 in Urbandale (-8.5%). Urbandale offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Johnston spend roughly 14.9% of their income on rent, more than the 12.5% in Urbandale.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 50.9°F). Urbandale receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 36.6" in Johnston.