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Quality of Life in Pleasant Hill, IA
Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
2% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Pleasant Hill, IA for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $19k | $36k |
| Comfortable | $55k | $81k |
| Luxury | $122k+ | $189k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $143k+ | $222k+ |
107%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
4 within 10 miles
Gas
20 within 10 miles
Hospital
9 within 20 miles
Airport
MCI — Kansas City International
Post Office
USPS — Pleasant Hill, IA
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Pleasant Hill, Iowa, is an affluent eastern suburb of Des Moines where the cost of living sits just above the national average and the population skews toward established professionals and families seeking a quieter, well-maintained alternative to the capital city. With a cost-of-living index of 102 (where 100 equals the U.S. average), the community offers a balance of suburban comfort and metropolitan access that attracts residents who value good schools, low crime, and a predictable daily routine over urban nightlife or extreme affordability.
Cost of living, housing, and how it compares to Des Moines and Altoona
Pleasant Hill’s cost of living is slightly above the national baseline but remains notably lower than many comparable suburbs in the Midwest. The median home value sits at $284,100, which is roughly $30,000 higher than the Des Moines metro median but still well below the national median of $350,000. Renters face a median monthly rent of $1,204, a figure that undercuts nearby Altoona (around $1,350) and is comparable to Ankeny. For buyers, the trade-off is clear: Pleasant Hill homes tend to be newer and larger than those in Des Moines proper, with many built after 2000, and property taxes in Polk County are moderate relative to Iowa’s statewide average. The average commute time of 20.97 minutes is a key selling point—shorter than the national average of 26 minutes and significantly less than commutes from farther-out suburbs like Waukee or Norwalk. Most residents drive to jobs in downtown Des Moines or the growing corporate corridors along I-80 and I-235, and the commute rarely exceeds 25 minutes even in peak traffic.
What daily life is like: amenities, schools, and neighborhood feel
Daily life in Pleasant Hill revolves around well-maintained parks, a strong public school system, and a low-key commercial strip along University Avenue and SE 36th Street. The city is served by the Southeast Polk Community School District, which consistently earns above-average ratings from the Iowa Department of Education and offers a 4-year graduation rate above 95%. For recreation, residents use Pleasant Hill Park (with its splash pad, sports fields, and walking trails) and the nearby Des Moines River Trail, which connects to the larger regional trail network. Shopping and dining are concentrated in a few strip malls and big-box centers—think Hy-Vee, Casey’s, and local pizzerias—rather than a walkable downtown. The city’s population of roughly 10,000 means that most errands require a car, but traffic is light and parking is plentiful. The overall rhythm is quiet and family-oriented: weekend mornings see youth soccer games at the park, and evenings are spent on patios or at community events like the annual Pleasant Hill Days festival in June.
The type of person who will thrive in Pleasant Hill is a professional or family who prioritizes short commutes, good schools, and a low-crime environment over urban density or cultural variety. Empty-nesters downsizing from larger homes in Des Moines also find the city appealing for its manageable lot sizes and proximity to medical facilities like MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. Young singles or renters seeking nightlife and walkability will likely find the suburb too quiet, but for anyone whose ideal day involves a 20-minute drive to work, a backyard grill, and a reliable school district, Pleasant Hill delivers a straightforward, high-quality suburban lifestyle.
Crime in Pleasant Hill, IA
Lower crime rates than 88% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Pleasant Hill, Iowa, reports a violent crime rate of 40.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 756 per 100,000, placing it in a complex safety landscape relative to both state and national averages. While the violent crime figure is significantly lower than the U.S. average, the property crime rate sits notably higher than the statewide Iowa average, a pattern that warrants close attention from prospective residents. The city's proximity to the Des Moines metropolitan area introduces additional dynamics, including exposure to regional crime trends and the potential influence of progressive prosecutorial policies in Polk County that may affect recidivism and public safety outcomes.
Crime in context
Pleasant Hill's violent crime rate of 40.2 per 100,000 is roughly one-eighth the national average of approximately 380 per 100,000, reflecting a generally low risk of serious violent offenses such as homicide, robbery, and aggravated assault. However, the property crime rate of 756 per 100,000 is about 40% higher than the Iowa state average of roughly 540 per 100,000, and approaches the national average of approximately 1,000 per 100,000. This elevated property crime rate—driven primarily by theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft—is a key concern, especially given that Polk County's district attorney's office has been characterized by some observers as pursuing progressive, offender-focused policies that may reduce deterrent effects and increase the likelihood of repeat property offenses.
What residents experience
In practice, Pleasant Hill residents report that violent crime is rare and typically isolated to domestic incidents or disputes among known individuals, making random attacks uncommon. The more tangible daily concern is property crime, including package thefts from porches, unlocked vehicle entries, and occasional garage burglaries in neighborhoods near major thoroughfares like Highway 65 and East University Avenue. Neighborhood watch programs are active in several subdivisions, and the Pleasant Hill Police Department maintains a community-oriented approach with visible patrols. However, residents should be aware that the broader Polk County justice system's emphasis on diversion programs and reduced sentencing for nonviolent offenders may contribute to a revolving-door effect for property criminals, undermining long-term safety gains.
Neighborhood-level variation is notable in Pleasant Hill. Areas east of Highway 65, particularly newer developments near the Pleasant Hill Aquatic Center and the growing commercial corridor, tend to see lower property crime rates due to higher home values and more vigilant homeowner associations. In contrast, older neighborhoods closer to the Des Moines city line, such as those near Southeast 14th Street, experience slightly elevated theft and vandalism rates. Prospective renters and buyers should review specific block-level crime maps and consider proximity to transit corridors, as properties adjacent to major roads face higher exposure to opportunistic crime. Overall, Pleasant Hill offers a relatively safe suburban environment, but the elevated property crime rate and regional prosecutorial philosophy demand proactive personal security measures.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-30T08:10:08.000Z
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