Johnson County, Iowa: commercial real estate data.
Johnson County, Iowa had an estimated 160,080 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 152,854, across 614 square miles. County output reached $12.64 bn in 2024, 3,490 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 100 7(a) approvals worth $35.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Johnson County
How many people live in Johnson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024156,639
- Households63,341
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$74,935
- Median age31.0
- Median gross rent$1,122 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$308,600
- Home value to household income4.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher55.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree24.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over93,834
- Population under 1830,276
- Share under 1819.3 percent
- Population 65 and over20,834
- Share 65 and over13.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64105,529
- Civilian labor force90,024
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.2 percent
- Rank by population among Iowa counties4th of 99
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included443rd of 3,222
Johnson County is the 4th largest of 99 Iowa counties by population. A median home costs 4.1 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.3 percent against 13.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Johnson County
Is Johnson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024160,080
- Census 2020 base population152,854
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.73 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,878
- Births, 20241,690
- Deaths, 2024901
- Natural change, 2024789
- Net domestic migration, 2024-679
- Net international migration, 20241,759
- Total net migration, 20241,080
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-898
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents570th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.73 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Johnson County
Where are people moving to Johnson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,699
- People arriving, from those returns7,121
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,489
- Net household movement-790
- Adjusted gross income arriving$300.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-68.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$63,933
- Average income of a leaving household$67,175
- Largest single originLinn County (620 households)
- Largest single destinationLinn County (772 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County | 620 | 925 | $39.5 m |
| Polk County | 203 | 274 | $10.2 m |
| Scott County | 169 | 263 | $11.6 m |
| Cook County | 146 | 249 | $11.2 m |
| Washington County | 144 | 262 | $8.2 m |
| Muscatine County | 124 | 183 | $6.0 m |
| Cedar County | 89 | 131 | $4.2 m |
| Black Hawk County | 86 | 136 | $6.7 m |
Households arriving report $3,242 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Linn County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Johnson County
What is the Johnson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$12.64 bn
- County GDP, 2023$12.09 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years24.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Iowa areas BEA publishes4th of 99
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes368th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$80,696
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 24.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Johnson County
Employment by industry in Johnson County
- Covered employment, annual average83,750
- Establishments reporting5,140
- Average annual pay$64,363
- Average weekly wage$1,238
- Retail trade, employment9,289
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,331
- Accommodation and food services, employment8,326
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,399
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,683
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$44,456
- Manufacturing, employment4,912
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$76,958
- Transportation and warehousing, employment3,024
- Construction, employment2,852
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 9,289 | 496 | $34,331 |
| Accommodation and food services | 8,326 | 410 | $22,399 |
| Health care and social assistance | 7,683 | 655 | $44,456 |
| Manufacturing | 4,912 | 115 | $76,958 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,024 | 91 | $55,917 |
| Construction | 2,852 | 380 | $69,191 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,707 | 826 | $94,059 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,252 | 322 | $54,316 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 9,289 jobs, 11.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Johnson County
How many businesses are in Johnson County?
- Establishments, all industries3,490
- Employment at those establishments68,965
- Annual payroll$3.63 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Johnson County
Building permits in Johnson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024714
- Declared construction value permitted$209.3 m
- Single family units authorized512
- Multifamily units authorized202
- Multifamily share of units28.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$293,181
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.3
Single-family homes are 71.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Johnson County
SBA loans in Johnson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded100
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$35.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$350,286
- Median 7(a) approval$186,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$604,880
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)951
- Jobs per approval9.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active29
- Distinct industries receiving approvals59
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms3
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter90
- Franchise loans21
- Franchise share of approvals21.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (9)
- Most active lenderNicolet National Bank (19)
- 504 approvals recorded32
- 504 gross approval dollars$31.9 m
- Average 504 approval$996,656
- Median 504 approval$591,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval10.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.7
- Most active CDCIowa Business Growth Company (19)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$66.9 m
The average approval of $350,286 sits well above the median of $186,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 3.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Johnson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Johnson County
Do SBA loans in Johnson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded31
- Paid in full29
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans6.5 percent
- Status: Paid in full29
- Status: Exempt from disclosure59
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.5 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Johnson County
SBA lending by place in Johnson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Iowa City, approvals45
- North Liberty, approvals21
- Coralville, approvals19
- Tiffin, approvals9
- Coraville, approvals2
- Lone Tree, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | 45 | $16,912,000 |
| North Liberty | 21 | $5,297,500 |
| Coralville | 19 | $10,239,400 |
| Tiffin | 9 | $1,716,500 |
| Coraville | 2 | $355,000 |
| Lone Tree | 1 | $200,000 |
| Solon | 1 | $150,000 |
| Hills | 1 | $148,200 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $10,000 |
Iowa City accounts for 45 approvals against 21 in North Liberty. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Johnson County
How large is Johnson County?
- Land area614 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Iowa counties20th of 99
- Width, east to west24.1 mi
- Height, north to south30.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land255
- Establishments per square mile5.68
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Johnson County
Flood risk in Johnson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Johnson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 190882
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Johnson County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Johnson County (community 190882), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Johnson County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Johnson County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Johnson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024156,639
- Households63,341
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$74,935
- Median age31.0
Common questions
Johnson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Johnson County, Iowa?
The Census Bureau estimates 160,080 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 156,639, in 63,341 households, ranking 4th of 99 Iowa counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Johnson County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.73 percent since the 2020 census base of 152,854, to 160,080 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,690 births against 901 deaths, with net migration of 1,080. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Johnson County?
$74,935. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $308,600, which is 4.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,122 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Johnson County?
3,490 establishments, employing 68,965 people with an annual payroll of $3.63 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Johnson County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 9,289 jobs, 11.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 83,750 jobs at an average annual pay of $64,363, or $1,238 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Johnson County?
100 7(a) approvals totaling $35.0 m since FY2020, across 29 lenders, with a median approval of $186,000, plus 32 504 approvals worth $31.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Johnson County get paid back?
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 29 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 6.5 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Johnson County?
714 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $209.3 m. Multifamily was 28.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Johnson County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Johnson County come from?
The largest single origin is Linn County, with 620 households. Arriving households report an average income of $63,933 against $67,175 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Johnson County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Johnson County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Johnson County
Cities and places in Johnson.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Johnson County. All 12 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | city | 75,752 | 45 | Wholly in this county |
| Coralville | city | 23,234 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| North Liberty | city | 21,125 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| Tiffin | city | 5,737 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Solon | city | 3,152 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| University Heights | city | 1,384 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lone Tree | city | 1,218 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Swisher | city | 1,182 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hills | city | 974 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Oxford | city | 779 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Shueyville | city | 740 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Frytown | CDP | 113 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 100 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Johnson County, the largest being Coraville (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby