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Darius David Johnston HouseDarius David Johnston House · Photo: Einbierbitte · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Norwalk

Norwalk spent less per resident in 2022 than 92% of similar cities

Norwalk’s city government spent $87.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $848 per resident. Water and other utilities ($18.2 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in California.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$87.1M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$848
In 2022: $848, less than 92% of 59 similar cities
Long-term debt
$73.0M
end of FY2022, reported
City staff, 2025
269
full-time · 249 part-time · March payroll $2.8M
Typical tax bill
$4,424
0.69% of home value · CA 0.70%

What stands out about how Norwalk is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$848 per resident in 2022: less than 92% of them

Norwalk’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($848 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,354, and the middle half spent $1,098–$2,038. Norwalk spent less than 92% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,098–$2,038Median $1,354Norwalk

Includes sewer and trash ($1.2 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
59

California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Norwalk itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $848 per resident a year, or $2.32 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 23%.

Where the money comes from
Sales taxes 27%From the federal government 17%Property taxes 15%Other taxes & licenses 11%From the state 10%From other local governments 9%Fees & charges 5%Utility sales 4%Interest, fines & other 1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $13.5 million; interest on debt $1.8 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $120.8 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Norwalk reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

City staff
269

full-time in March 2025, up from 246 in 2022.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $4,424 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.69% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across California.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Cerritos$5,711
Downey$5,323
California$5,124
Bellflower$4,666
Santa Fe Springs$4,523
Norwalk$4,424
$4,424
typical bill a year
0.69%
effective rate
$644,700
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Norwalk’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Norwalk’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Norwalk →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Norwalk

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See norwalk.org for Norwalk’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Norwalk yet.norwalk.org ↗
Agendas

Norwalk’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on norwalk.org ↗.

Who works for Norwalk

One full-time city employee for every 382 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (102,635).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Roads & transportation114 + 46 pt
Parks & libraries13 + 102 pt
Police33 + 49 pt
Administration & buildings46 + 15 pt
Health & welfare23 + 30 pt
Water & other utilities8
Housing & development7 + 1 pt
Other25 + 6 pt
269
full-time
249
part-time
$2.8M
payroll for March 2025
$33.3M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$92,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
Compared, 2022.Norwalk had 2.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 43 of the 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 4.3: Norwalk had fewer than 88% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Whittier Union High School District

Norwalk’s high school district, shared with Downey, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada, Pico Rivera, Whittier and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Norwalk →
$23,421
per pupil · CA $21,206
10,223
students
$178.6 million
long-term debt

Of the $23,421 per pupil, $13,371 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 34%State 61%Federal 5%

California districts overall: 36% local, 52% state, 11% federal.

Also serving Norwalk

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District · $20,749 per pupil

Little Lake City Elementary School District · $23,106 per pupil

ABC Unified School District · $19,156 per pupil

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Norwalk’s votes are counted by county

California reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Norwalk alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Los Angeles County’s results.

President · Los Angeles County’s results3,727,169 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat64.8%2,416,522 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican31.9%1,189,227 votes

Others: 3.3% (121,420 votes).

Most votes in Los Angeles County: Kamala D Harris

California: Harris 58.5%, Trump 38.3%

The county’s page

100% of Norwalk lies in Los Angeles County. Every 2024 race in Los Angeles County is on the county’s page.

Los Angeles County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Norwalk

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Norwalk.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: norwalk.org ↗
  2. 2
    California AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    California SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of California

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Norwalk compares with the towns next door

Norwalk spent $848 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $768 to $5,049. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Bellflower$768$4,666
Downey$1,207$5,323
Cerritos$1,469$5,711
Santa Fe Springs$5,049$4,523
Norwalk$848$4,424

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Norwalk’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Norwalk’s government

How much does Norwalk spend per resident?

About $848 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $848 was less than 92% of 59 California cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Norwalk?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,424 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.69% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across California. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see norwalk.org.

Who runs Norwalk’s government?

See norwalk.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Norwalk yet.

How did Norwalk vote in 2024?

California counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Norwalk alone. Los Angeles County, where 100% of Norwalk lies, voted Harris 64.8%, Trump 31.9% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Norwalk?

269 full-time and 249 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $2.8M (about $33.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Norwalk in the state legislature?

State Senate District 30 (Bob Archuleta) and Assembly District 64 (Blanca Pacheco). The Assembly district also covers seven other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Norwalk’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →