Is Pleasant Hill Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

There are a lot of cities named “Pleasant Hill” in America, but for this article, we’re talking about the one in Iowa, which is a suburb of Des Moines.

Be sure when doing other research you add Iowa or else you might be looking at California or Missouri or Ohio – you get the point.

When you look at Pleasant Hill on the map, your first reaction will be “There is nothing but a few streets and empty land!”

This is a city where you can appreciate what it is now and the development that is to come.

This is a fast-growing city with plenty of room for that growth.

Pleasant Hill is mostly residential but does have a few nice attractions and a couple (and by that, I mean two) hotels.

It’s also in a great location, being just 15 minutes from downtown Des Moines and 15 minutes south of the bustling suburb of Altoona.

The city was hit by a tornado in March of 2022, and several homes were destroyed.

The video of the storm is so hard to watch.

This was one of the strongest and deadliest outbreaks in Iowa in the past decade.

Storms like this are just a reality in the Midwest, and it’s a good reminder to always take storms seriously.

As I write this tucked into my Nebraska home, we have severe weather coming in tonight and my fingers are typing at warp speed so I can bring in the patio furniture and bring supplies to my safe space when I’m finished.

That’s just life in the Midwest, but the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Warnings & Dangers in Pleasant Hill

Safest Places to Visit in Pleasant Hill

Golfers will love this city.

Copper Creek Golf Course does have memberships, but there are tee times available for the public.

Members just get some added benefits that the general public doesn’t.

You can also go to Toad Valley Golf Course for a regulation green, mini-golf (the “Field of Greens”), and virtual golf.

Check out the schedule at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park and Event Center.

There are festivals held here throughout the year and there are camping sites for those attending the Iowa State Fair.

The facility wasn’t open in the winter of 2021-2022, but it does look like it opened in the spring of 2022.

You’ll have to check their website or social media accounts for updates, as right now there aren’t too many details.

There are several parks and wildlife areas to visit in or near Pleasant Hill:

• Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge: A great chance to get some exercise and see the wildlife of Iowa.
• Yellow Banks Park: Amazing river views from the bluffs.
• Easter Lake Park: Great fishing and boating with a beach in the summer. It’s also home to the only covered bridge left in Polk County.

The Great Escape is an entertainment complex with bowling, laser tag, arcade games, and virtual reality experiences.

There is food available there too from Social Eats & Crafts, so you don’t have to plan lunch or dinner around this visit.

It’s also worth trying out the Pleasant Hill Diner for hearty meals in an old diner atmosphere.

Places to Avoid in Pleasant Hill

Even the highest crime-rated neighborhood in Pleasant Hill is very low risk, so you don’t have to avoid any part of this town.

Just about everything you’ll need is near the Highway 65 and University Avenue interchange or along one of those major roadways.

If you are heading south on 65 and driving over the Des Moines River, you’ve officially left Pleasant Hill.

You’ll need to go down to Avon to turn around.

Sometimes, after a storm hits, people want to go look at the damage.

This is good advice for any community you visit in the aftermath of a disaster – don’t go look at someone else’s tragedy.

There was a couple in March that lost their home and their business in that one tornado.

Imagine if that was you and someone was driving by.

The National Weather Service and local news stations will cover an event like that, so you can see pictures and videos online.

If you are inclined to help, reach out to the Red Cross and ask how you can do so.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Pleasant Hill

So... How Safe Is Pleasant Hill Really?

It’s a safe city where you can feel comfortable sleeping, eating, and playing.

The only crime category close to the national average is theft, and that’s still just one in 74 risks.

Some cities I’ve researched in Iowa go as low as one in 29 risks.

That said, you can’t let the name Pleasant Hill fool you.

There is a crime here.

There was one negligent homicide in 2021.

There were 15 aggravated assaults, up 275% from the year before.

Burglary was up 51%.

There is no community in Iowa or elsewhere that is a “no-risk” community.

With a one in 507 risks of being a victim of violent crime, it’s safe to say you’re more likely to be a victim of petty theft than a violent act.

If you take all the good safety steps you know how to take, you’ll enjoy your time in Pleasant Hill.

Just be sure to research more about Des Moines, because the safety guidance changes at the city boundary.

How Does Pleasant Hill Compare?

City	Safety Index
Pleasant Hill	90
New Bern	77
Williamstown	88
Cicero	53
Midland	78
Mountain Lakes	74
Chalmette	62
Sarajevo	65
Kelowna	76
Harare	66
Bologna	56
Alexandria	45
Tehran	35

Useful Information

Pleasant Hill Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

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Iowa - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Ames	73
Ankeny	83
Arnolds Park	85
Bentonsport	94
Bettendorf	87
Cedar Falls	81
Cedar Rapids	74
Clarinda	88
Clear Lake	84
Clive	76
Coralville	87
Council Bluffs	83
Davenport	58
Decorah	82
Des Moines	76
Dubuque	79
Estherville	93
Fort Dodge	55
Fort Madison	49
Indianola	78
Iowa City	82
Keokuk	52
Marshalltown	76
Mason City	88
Muscatine	77
North Liberty	85
Okoboji	88
Ottumwa	51
Pella	85
Pleasant Hill	90
Polk City	92
Shenandoah	91
Sioux City	48
Spirit Lake	84
Storm Lake	92
The Amana Colonies	94
Urbandale	82
West Des Moines	78