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Living in
Pleasant Hill.
About
Life in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill is a community of 10,796 people in Iowa. The median household income is $90,508, median rent runs about $1,204 per month, and median home values are around $295,100. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Pleasant Hill at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Foreign-Born
3.0%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+10.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.0% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Pleasant Hill: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pleasant Hill, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (24.3%), and 3.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.0%
of households
Married Couples
57.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Pleasant Hill
In Pleasant Hill, rent runs 25% above the IA average, and home values are 42% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,807
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $302,550 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Pleasant Hill and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Polk County, which includes Pleasant Hill, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Pleasant Hill: Polk County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Polk County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Pleasant Hill is about 2% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Pleasant Hill Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area
Commute22.2 min avg
How Pleasant Hill residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pleasant Hill, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Pleasant Hill runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
214.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
634.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Pleasant Hill Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Polk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Polk County, which includes Pleasant Hill, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,200 |
| 2024 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 26 | Hail | $75.4M |
| 2021 | 20 | Drought | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 42 | Hail | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Polk County, county-wide
Pleasant Hill is about 2% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, which includes Pleasant Hill, is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Polk County, county-wide
Pleasant Hill is about 2% of Polk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pleasant Hill has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
36.5"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 14°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.34" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.17" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.02" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 5.24" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 5.26" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.17" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.78" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 1.91" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pleasant Hill
Uninsured
3.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Pleasant Hill's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Des Moines
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Des Moines
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pleasant Hill (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,543 students · in-state tuition $52,130 · 78% graduate · median earnings $78,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,486 students · in-state tuition $36,136 · 61% graduate · median earnings $58,718 (10 yrs after entry)
Mercy College of Health Sciences
6.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
12.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 405 students · in-state tuition $21,100 · 62% graduate · median earnings $41,000 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pleasant Hill
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill Public Library
5151 Maple Dr, Pleasant Hill
Cities Near Pleasant Hill
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pleasant Hill?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pleasant Hill FAQ
Is Pleasant Hill, Iowa affordable?⌄
Pleasant Hill's median rent is $1,215/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $90,508/year. Median home value is $295,100.
Is Pleasant Hill, Iowa safe?⌄
Pleasant Hill's violent crime rate was 214 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 634 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pleasant Hill, Iowa?⌄
Polk County, which includes Pleasant Hill, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pleasant Hill, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Pleasant Hill is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,215/month and median household income is $90,508/year. The median home value is $295,100. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pleasant Hill, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Pleasant Hill is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from