Cost of Living in Pleasant Hill, IA

Population 10,796 · Iowa · Data vintage 2023

93
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Pleasant Hill is a smaller Iowa community of around 11000 residents, where median household incomes of $86,890 and housing costs ($284,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. At 7.5%, the local unemployment rate runs well above the US figure, pointing to structural rather than cyclical labor-market issues.

Pleasant Hill sits roughly 6 miles east of Des Moines — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 55% higher than Des Moines' $184,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 93
Rent 92

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Pleasant Hill

The median home value in Pleasant Hill is $284,100 — 7% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,204/month, 8% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $86,890/year is 17% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 7.5%, above the national average of 4.8%. Iowa's top state income tax rate is 5.7% and the combined sales tax is 6.9%. Overall, Pleasant Hill has a cost of living index of 93 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 7% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$284,100
7% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$179,070
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,204/mo
8% below avg
Zillow Rent
$1,271/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.7x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
1.6%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$646
1 BR
$716
2 BR
$877
3 BR
$1,170
4 BR
$1,287
Owner-occupied 75.8%
Renter-occupied 24.2%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,204
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,818/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
21.8 min
19% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
10.5%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
80.4%
Carpooled
5.9%
Public transit
0.1%
Walked
2.1%
Bicycle
0.4%
Work from home
10.5%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 5.7%
Total Sales Tax 6.9%
State rate 6.0%
Avg local rate 0.9%
Property Tax 1.6%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$86,890
17% above avg
Per Capita Income
$38,597
Unemployment Rate
7.5%
56% above avg
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor Force Participation
62.4%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 22.8%
Graduate degree 9.3%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 41.1
Male median age 38.7
Female median age 42.9

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 52 — Moderate
46%
Good air days/yr
166
Max AQI recorded
281
PM2.5 days
81
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

93%
4-Year Graduation Rate
16.4:1
Student-teacher ratio
11
Public schools
7,297
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Pleasant Hill has a cost index of 93 (100 = national average). It is 7% below the national average.

What is average rent in Pleasant Hill, IA?

The median gross rent in Pleasant Hill is $1,204 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Pleasant Hill?

The median home value in Pleasant Hill is $284,100 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Pleasant Hill?

The median household income in Pleasant Hill is $86,890 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Pleasant Hill, IA?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Pleasant Hill is 6.9%. The Iowa state income tax top rate is 5.7%.

Is Pleasant Hill, IA affordable?

Pleasant Hill is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 93 (100 = US average).

Pleasant Hill at a Glance

Population
10,796
Median Income
$86,890
Home Value
$284,100
Median Rent
$1,204/mo
Unemployment
7.5%
Sales Tax
6.9%
View all cities in Iowa →
🗺️ County data for Iowa

Explore county-level cost of living data

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