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Living in
Norwalk.
About
Life in Norwalk
If you're considering a move here, know that you're looking at a growing bedroom community that's genuinely affordable while keeping you connected to Des Moines—just 21 minutes away on average. The job market is solid with 3.2% unemployment, and while the local economy isn't built on one dominant industry, you're close enough to Des Moines' job centers that commuting is realistic. What keeps people here long-term is the family-friendly vibe—nearly 60% of households are married couples, 40% have kids under 18, and the community feels genuinely stable rather than transient.
Norwalk at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
1.4%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
+17.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.4% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Norwalk: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Norwalk, the largest foreign-born group is from India (46.4%), and 0.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.7%
of households
Married Couples
54.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.50
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Norwalk
In Norwalk, rent runs 14% below the IA average, and home values are 46% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,924
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $334,748 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Norwalk and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Warren County, which includes Norwalk, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Norwalk: Warren County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Warren County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Norwalk Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area
Commute21.6 min avg
How Norwalk residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Norwalk, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 115 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Norwalk runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
49.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
285.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Norwalk Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
36.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Warren County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Warren County, which includes Norwalk, the most common type is hail, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 31 | Hail | $219,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Hail | $210,500 |
| 2022 | 12 | Drought | $20.0M |
| 2021 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 24 | Heavy Rain | $697,000 |
| 2018 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $425,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Warren County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Polk County, IA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 15 miles from Norwalk) is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Polk County, IA (15 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Norwalk has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.6"
Annual Snowfall
36.5"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 14°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.34" |
| Mar | 49°F | 30°F | 2.17" |
| Apr | 62°F | 41°F | 4.02" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 5.24" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 5.26" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 84°F | 64°F | 4.17" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.78" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 1.91" |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Norwalk
Uninsured
1.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Norwalk's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Des Moines
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.2 mi away · Des Moines
Clive Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 9 mi away · Clive
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Norwalk
Norwalk's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 38.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Norwalk (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,543 students · in-state tuition $52,130 · 78% graduate · median earnings $78,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,486 students · in-state tuition $36,136 · 61% graduate · median earnings $58,718 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,227 students · in-state tuition $48,988 · 67% graduate · median earnings $57,816 (10 yrs after entry)
Mercy College of Health Sciences
8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 867 students · in-state tuition $18,024 · 67% graduate · median earnings $63,983 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Norwalk
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Norwalk
Norwalk Easter Public Library
1051 North Ave, Norwalk
Cities Near Norwalk
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Norwalk?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Norwalk FAQ
Is Norwalk, Iowa affordable?⌄
Norwalk's median rent is $838/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $102,722/year. Median home value is $303,100.
Is Norwalk, Iowa safe?⌄
Norwalk's violent crime rate was 50 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 286 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Norwalk, Iowa?⌄
Warren County, which includes Norwalk, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Norwalk, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Norwalk is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $838/month and median household income is $102,722/year. The median home value is $303,100. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Norwalk, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Norwalk is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from