Like other relatively young Des Moines Area suburbs, the transition from cornfields to subdivisions is still somewhat fresh in Pleasant Hill. “We’re a bedroom community right outside Des Moines,” says Mary Hamilton Ross, longtime resident and local Realtor with Re/Max Precision. “My family moved here in the ’60s when there was only one street.” Residential lanes branch north and south of Iowa Highway 163, the main drag leading west to the downtown heart. Paved trails and highway access connect Pleasant Hill to the broader region, though Ross emphasizes that this community of around 10,000 maintains a “small-town feel.” Familiar, locally owned eateries sit alongside chain additions, while hometown parks serve as event hubs each season.
The Pleasant Hill Diner serves classic diner fare with a funky retro aesthetic.
Pleasant Hill residents love the bike trails at Copper Creek Lake Park.
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Older split-levels, Copper Creek views and new construction
The median price in Pleasant Hill is around $320,000, below the national median value and on par with nearby suburban cities like Altoona and Bondurant. “We have an older dynamic in the neighborhood with ’60s, ’70s and ’80s split-levels, but then we have a lot of new construction, too,” Ross says. New Traditional single-family homes and townhouses back up to golf greens or lakefront views in Copper Creek , one of several subdivisions added within the past 30 years. New constructions pop up periodically as the city fills out its remaining development space. Pleasant Hill sees hot, humid summers and snowy winters, and residents are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks outside their properties.
Ranch-style homes are common in Pleasant Hill, with both traditional and modern examples
Pleasant Hill features a number of charming split-level homes set into the neighborhood's namesake terrain
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Big-box Pleasant Hill shopping and local digs
The Pleasant Hill Diner has served greasy spoon staples from a retro atmosphere since its early days as the 5 & Diner. “It’s changed hands four or five times, but it’s still a good place to go,” Ross says. A handful of fast-food and casual chain options join the local digs along Iowa Highway 163. Hy-Vee and Fareway have Pleasant Hill locations, while Aldi is less than a mile east. Target and Lowes are about 5 miles away in Altoona, though Copper Creek 9 saves the drive to Cinemark Altoona for new movie releases.
Rolling Smoke BBQ serves fantastic brisket just minutes from Copper Creek Park and Theater
Great Escape features food, bowling, laser tag, an arcade, and more for Pleasant Hill residents.
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Attending Des Moines or Southeast Polk schools
The Des Moines Independent Community School District scores a C from Niche, while the Southeast Polk Community School District scores a B-plus. Pleasant Hill students are zoned for one of these two options, though they can apply for an inter-district transfer. High school students can take college credits through the Des Moines Area Community College’s Career Advantage program.
Southeast Polk High School was built in 2010.
Four Mile Elementary School front enterance.
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Pocket parks, Copper Creek recreation and bike trails
Many Pleasant Hill subdivisions are within a mile of a neighborhood playground with a covered pavilion, sports fields or both. Public tee times at Copper Creek Golf Club are down the road from Copper Creek Lake Park, a warm-weather hotspot for boating and fishing. The paved lakefront trail and the 13-mile Gay Lea Wilson Trail link Pleasant Hill in with the Des Moines Area biking network.
The Basketball Court at Sunrise Park.
The Playground at Sunrise Park features modern play equipment surrounded by trees.
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Commuting throughout the Des Moines Area from Pleasant Hill
Some residents work within the local school districts or small businesses in Pleasant Hill’s business park, while many others commute to corporate offices or hospitals in downtown Des Moines and surrounding suburbs. U.S. Route 65 leads north to Interstate 80, part of a wider circle of freeways that connects the region. Iowa Highway 163 serves as the weekday bus route for Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority’s rush hour service to Pleasant Hill. The Des Moines International Airport is about 10 miles away, and full-scale hospitals are within a 7-mile drive, though MercyOne Pleasant Hill Family Medicine is right in town.
Crime statistics and tornado preparedness in Pleasant Hill
FBI statistics show that violent and property crimes fluctuated in Pleasant Hill on an overall downward trend from 2015 to 2022. Crimes occurred at a rate of about 9 per every 1,000 residents in 2022. Residents can track reported crimes by type, location and date using the Des Moines Area Law Enforcement Response Map.
Like other Iowa communities, Pleasant Hill is vulnerable to severe weather. A category EF-2 tornado damaged over a dozen Pleasant Hill homes and caused one injury in April 2024. Over 100 volunteers joined the Pleasant Hill Parks & Recreation department to clean up the aftermath and plant new trees. Polk County tests its outdoor warning sirens on the first Saturday of each month at noon, while residents are encouraged to keep itineraries of personal belongings in case they need to process an insurance claim.
Neighbors gather to “Chill on the Hill” or shop the farmers market
Copper Creek Lake Park becomes a live music venue during Chill on the Hill, which takes place once a week from late May through June. Attendees must be at least 21, though the waterfront also hosts Trick or Treat Around the Lake, Art on the Lake and other annual all-ages events. The Community Farmers Market of Pleasant Hill fills the Berean Church parking lot on Monday evenings throughout the summer.
Pleasant Hill enjoys weekly live music during Chill on the Hill in the summer months.
The Pleasant Hill Farmers Market is a big deal for local residents.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
