Pleasant Hill, IA vs Red Oak, IA

The cost of living difference between Pleasant Hill, IA and Red Oak, IA is dramatic. Red Oak is 46.1% cheaper than Pleasant Hill, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Pleasant Hill has a cost index of 92 while Red Oak sits at 63, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Pleasant Hill is $1,204/month compared to $768/month in Red Oak — a 57% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Red Oak is more affordable at $91,600 median vs $284,100.

Median household income in Pleasant Hill is $86,890 compared to $52,996 in Red Oak (+64%). While Pleasant Hill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Pleasant Hill spend roughly 16.6% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Red Oak.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 52.4°F). Pleasant Hill receives more rainfall at 36.6" per year compared to 31.9" in Red Oak.