Altoona vs Pleasant Hill
A side-by-side look at two Des Moines metro areas buyers often weigh against each other — current values, rents, market pace, and demographics.
Side by side
| Metric | Altoona | Pleasant Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $322,616 | $306,187 |
| Value change, past year | -0.5% | +0.3% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,436 | $1,346 |
| Homes for sale | 117 | 53 |
| Median days to pending | 27 days | — |
| Listings with price cuts | 26% | 26% |
| Median household income | $86,114 | $90,508 |
| Homeownership | 69% | 78% |
| Population | 21,495 | 11,136 |
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year). Cheaper figure highlighted where the two differ.
What the numbers say
- Pleasant Hill is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 5% below Altoona.
- Renting is cheaper in Pleasant Hill, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Altoona is substantially larger than Pleasant Hill — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Altoona
The metro's entertainment corner — and one of its more affordable growing suburbs.
Pleasant Hill
A quiet east-metro city bordering Des Moines, with lake and trail access.
Schools
Altoona: Largely served by the Southeast Polk Community School District, one of the larger districts in the metro. Confirm the boundary by address.
Pleasant Hill: Primarily the Southeast Polk Community School District, with portions in Des Moines Public Schools depending on location — verify by address.
Getting around
Altoona: East metro along US-65 and I-80; typically 15–20 minutes to downtown Des Moines outside of peak hours.
Pleasant Hill: East metro bordering Des Moines; often 12–18 minutes to downtown via US-65 or Hubbell Ave.
Figures are area-wide typicals, not a valuation of any specific home. Verify school boundaries, property taxes, and current prices by address. Not real-estate or financial advice.