50131 and 50021 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
50131
50021
Opportunity
86 · Top 2%
vs86 · Top 3%
Growth
72 · Top 12%
vs70 · Top 15%
Climate
59 · Bottom 10%
vs59 · Bottom 10%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 11%
vs89 · Top 11%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 21%
vs98 · Top 14%
Schools
80 · Top 13%
vs77 · Top 18%
Access
93 · Top 47%
vs94 · Top 44%
Economic stability
71 · Top 28%
vs87 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | 50131 | 50021 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,583 | 30,283 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $106,551 | $99,572 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $57,553 | $53,356 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,033/sq mi | 1,258/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $369,400 | $317,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,338 | $1,393 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 74.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.7% | 49.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 3.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 178 | 881 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.3 | 12.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 42.4% | -34.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 14°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.5" | 36.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 21.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.13 | 14.85 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 80.3% | 78.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 77.0% | 73.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 25.1% | 28.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
50131
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
50021
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Full profiles: 50131 — Johnston, IA · 50021 — Ankeny, IA · How this is calculated: methodology