Norwalk 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 | Norwalk | Pleasant Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $337,407 | $306,187 |
| Value change, past year | +1.8% | +0.3% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,189 | $1,346 |
| Homes for sale | 79 | 53 |
| Median days to pending | 26 days | — |
| Listings with price cuts | 30% | 26% |
| Median household income | $102,722 | $90,508 |
| Homeownership | 83% | 78% |
| Population | 14,183 | 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 9% below Norwalk.
- Renting is cheaper in Norwalk, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Norwalk has the higher median household income of the two.
- Norwalk is substantially larger than Pleasant Hill — worth weighing if small-town feel is part of what you're after.
The character of each
Norwalk
A growing south-metro city that has stayed closer to town than Indianola.
Pleasant Hill
A quiet east-metro city bordering Des Moines, with lake and trail access.
Schools
Norwalk: Served by the Norwalk Community School District, which has expanded alongside the city's growth.
Pleasant Hill: Primarily the Southeast Polk Community School District, with portions in Des Moines Public Schools depending on location — verify by address.
Getting around
Norwalk: South metro via I-35 and Highway 28; commonly 20–25 minutes to downtown Des Moines.
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.