Below Average CostNear National AverageSoutheast Polk Comm School District
Median Income
$81,992
household / year
Median Home Value
$263,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,102
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Pleasant Hill, IA a Good Place to Live?
Pleasant Hill is a small city of 10,456 in Iowa, with a median household income of $81,992
and a 9.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pleasant Hill stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Pleasant Hill is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pleasant Hill city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.7
Pleasant Hill's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pleasant Hill costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pleasant Hill, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$263,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,102
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$81,992
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Pleasant Hill's violent crime rate is 398.8 per 100,000 residents
— 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
398.8 /100k
Property Crime
2178.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pleasant Hill is served primarily by Southeast Polk Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Pleasant Hill, IA
National Avg
School District
Southeast Polk Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pleasant Hill sees average highs of 30.9°F in January
and 85.6°F in July,
with 37.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Pleasant Hill's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pleasant Hill roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $263,600 and median rent is $1,102/month.
Pleasant Hill's violent crime rate is 398.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2178.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pleasant Hill are operated by Southeast Polk Comm School District.
The district has 8 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 31.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pleasant Hill, IA has a population of 10,456, a median household income of $81,992, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Pleasant Hill averages 30.9°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.3 inches
with about 36.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pleasant Hill, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50327.
The population of Pleasant Hill, Iowa is 10,456 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pleasant Hill: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $263,600, median household income $81,992, crime index 104 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pleasant Hill side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.