Real Estate Investing in Pleasant Hill, Iowa (50327)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Polk County • Population: 12,875 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50327 (Pleasant Hill, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Pleasant Hill, IA (50327)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $321,543
Avg Monthly Rent $1,325
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $89,242
% Renters 18.9%

Market Analysis: 50327 Pleasant Hill

ZIP 50327 inside Polk County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $322K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 50327 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 50327's metrics run below Polk County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 50327 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 50327 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Pleasant Hill:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,325/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
62 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 50327

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$91,679/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $243,875 $1,390 4.1% +5.3% $121,938
3BR $300,572 $1,890 4.5% +5.5% $100,191
4BR $379,822 $1,940 3.7% +5.4% $94,956
5BR $458,397 +4.9% $91,679

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$334K$298K$262K$226K$191K$155KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,487$1,431$1,376$1,320$1,264$1,208Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50327 Compare?

Metric 50327 Pleasant Hill Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Iowa
Home Value $321,543 $321,543 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,325 $1,325 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50327? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50327 (Pleasant Hill, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $321,543
Monthly Rent $1,325
Price-to-Rent 20.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -8.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
3.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50327

Population: 12,875

💰 Median Household Income
$89,242
This area
$89,242
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.9%
This area
18.9%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.7%
This area
31.7%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.3 years
This area
40.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.9%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Black/African American 4.0%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
Asian 3.6%
👶 Under 18
27.8%
This area
27.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 50327

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,948 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Four Mile Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
489 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,121 Per Student
A Very Good

Pleasant Hill Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,255 Per Student
A Very Good

Spring Creek - 6th Grade

📚 Grade 06 Middle
👥
544 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,121 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southeast Polk Junior High

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
1,106 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,121 Per Student
C+ Average

Southeast Polk High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,294 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,121 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 13,258 Off-Campus Students
C
Grand View University
1,796 students · 6.3 mi
D
Mercy College of Health Sciences
907 students · 7.2 mi
D
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology
16 students · 7.6 mi
C+
Drake University
4,504 students · 8.5 mi
C+
Des Moines Area Community College
24,418 students · 10.6 mi
C
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines
74 students · 11.9 mi
C+
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
586 students · 12.7 mi
C
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School
36 students · 13.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 13,258 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pleasant Hill, IA good for landlords?

For rental operators, Pleasant Hill, IA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What is the renter demographic in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Tenant quality in Pleasant Hill, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,325/mo.

What is the investability score for Pleasant Hill, IA?

Pleasant Hill, IA records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $322K and average rents around $1,325/mo. That combination puts it in the robust tier for investor interest.

Are rents high in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Pleasant Hill, IA rentals go for roughly $1,325/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $322K acquisition costs.

Does house hacking make sense in Pleasant Hill, IA?

House hacking in Pleasant Hill, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $322K and rents of $1,325/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 50327 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 50327 ranks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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