Pleasant Hill, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Pleasant Hill, Iowa had a total population of 11,136, the 37th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $90,508, which is 21% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 35.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Iowa.
- Unemployment rate of 8.2% is notably above the national average.
Pleasant Hill Quick Facts
How Pleasant Hill Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,796 | 11,136 | +3.1% |
| Median household income | $86,890 | $90,508 | +4.2% |
| Median home value | $284,100 | $295,100 | +3.9% |
How Pleasant Hill Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Pleasant Hill Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Polk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 212,421 | $65,932 | 14.9% | $194,700 |
| Ankeny | 72,615 | $108,198 | 4.2% | $331,000 |
| West Des Moines | 71,083 | $86,594 | 8.4% | $309,000 |
| Urbandale | 46,595 | $112,795 | 6.8% | $335,500 |
| Johnston | 24,384 | $106,551 | 10.2% | $369,100 |
| Altoona | 21,495 | $86,114 | 8.3% | $274,600 |
| Clive | 19,012 | $132,121 | 7.3% | $401,100 |
| Grimes | 16,366 | $120,037 | 4.4% | $304,700 |
| Norwalk | 14,183 | $102,722 | 4.2% | $303,100 |
| Bondurant | 8,560 | $135,674 | 6.2% | $318,800 |
Cities Similar to Pleasant Hill
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pella | 10,720 | $84,111 | $292,700 | 47.3% | 5.9% |
| Waverly | 10,494 | $80,284 | $223,300 | 44.1% | 10.9% |
| Le Mars | 10,640 | $74,701 | $219,200 | 21.1% | 9.2% |
| Oskaloosa | 11,504 | $64,004 | $153,300 | 25.4% | 16.6% |
| Storm Lake | 11,428 | $62,765 | $172,200 | 18.9% | 7.0% |
Population Overview
Pleasant Hill is a small city located in Iowa, within Polk County. The total population is 11,136. It ranks as the 37th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pleasant Hill is 39.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Pleasant Hill is $90,508. This is 21% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 12% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 8.2%. This is 130% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $295,100. Housing costs are 42% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Pleasant Hill has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.7%.
Education
35.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Pleasant Hill in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Pleasant Hill, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Pleasant Hill, Iowa?
Pleasant Hill, Iowa has a population of 11,136 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Pleasant Hill, IA?
The median household income in Pleasant Hill is $90,508, which is 12% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Pleasant Hill, IA?
The poverty rate in Pleasant Hill is 8.9%. This means approximately 976 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Pleasant Hill, Iowa?
Pleasant Hill's population is 85.3% White, 3.9% Black, 6.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Pleasant Hill, IA?
The median home value in Pleasant Hill is $295,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Pleasant Hill, Iowa?
35.5% of adults (25+) in Pleasant Hill hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.