Darius David Johnston House · Photo: Einbierbitte · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Norwalk is healthier than 32%
Norwalk differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norwalk. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norwalk
More Norwalk adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (33.4%), vs 28.6% across California. Loneliness is above the state too: 42.1%, vs 37.3% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Norwalk is behind on routine checkups
It trails California on three of five routine checkups and screenings: dentist visits (58% vs 62.8%), cholesterol checks (83.9% vs 85.4%) and colon screening (52.1% vs 57.5%). Checkups ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Norwalk’s lead shrinks
Norwalk is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, but 32% of the 8,584 towns with similar household incomes ($75K–$125K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Norwalk
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.4%), vs 17.9% across California. Housing insecurity (19.9% vs 14.9%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Norwalk’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
What’s behind Norwalk’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwalk is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, #486 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 92% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 14%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Norwalk’s median household income is $100,085; among the 8,584 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$125K), it’s healthier than 32%, less than its income alone would suggest.
How Norwalk adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Norwalk runs above California.
2 in 5 Norwalk adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Keeping up with care
Share of Norwalk adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.4% of Norwalk adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Out of every 100 Norwalk adults…
Norwalk runs below CA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Norwalk
1 hospital and 3 community health centers in Norwalk, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Norwalk; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
3.7 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Norwalk and the towns around it
Norwalk’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk | B− | 26.9% | 12.7% | 10.5% | CDC place |
| Santa Fe Springs | B− | 28.5% | 13.9% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Cerritos | A | 16.6% | 12.7% | 6.7% | CDC place |
| Bellflower | C+ | 28.7% | 12.9% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Downey | B | 27.6% | 11.8% | 9.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norwalk adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norwalk
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norwalk is better than California on 6 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Norwalk’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norwalk | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%23.7–27.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%13.2–15.7 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.8–17.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.9%24.2–29.7 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11.5–13.9 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.2%26.2–30.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%33.9–38.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 17.8%16.4–19.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.6–11.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.4%26–30.8 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%13.6–17 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%33.7–39.5 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.4%13.8–17.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.1%67.6–72.4 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58%55.4–60.4 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%82.2–85.3 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.1%67.5–72.4 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 52.1%48.5–55.4 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%69.6–79.2 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.9%16.2–19.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 42.1%39.5–45.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.4%31–36.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.4%21.6–25.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.9%18.2–21.9 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%7.1–9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%10–12.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.4%16.8–20.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.3%30–34.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%13.3–15.8 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.7–17.5 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6.4–7.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.7–9.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.7 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Norwalk
Is Norwalk a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwalk is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #486 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norwalk?
CDC estimates 26.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.2% and 29.7%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norwalk?
Coast Plaza Hospital in Norwalk, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Norwalk’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norwalk have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.8–17.1%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Norwalk more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Norwalk.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.