NorwalkIowaCaboose, 2025
Norwalk’s story
170 years in pictures
Census counts: 287 in 1900, 12,799 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2025 and 2 maps from 1931 on.
- 1856Norwalk is settled
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
15,004
2025 Census estimate · +17.2% since 2020
Typical home
$335K
+0.7% in a year
Household income
$103K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Jobs based here
2,622
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#2 of 140 in IA
Is Norwalk a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Norwalk earns an A+, 2nd among Iowa's 140 graded towns. Crime is low: it reports less per resident than 90% of U.S. towns, the median household earns $103K, and its schools rank ahead of 85% of Iowa towns. Its lowest mark, a B, is in cost of living. Only 6 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on hazard risk.
What makes Norwalk stand out
Where Norwalk beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Norwalk0.5
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
79% less violent crime than IA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Norwalk Comm School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Orchard Hills Elementary | 2–3 | 558 |
| Lakewood Elementary School | 4–5 | 554 |
| Oviatt Elementary School | PK–1 | 548 |
SchoolsA
#22 of the 140 Iowa towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
A growing town
Norwalk has grown 68% since 2010
8,945 counted in 2010 and 12,799 in 2020; an estimated 15,004 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 17.2% since 2020, after 43.1% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Norwalk grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Norwalk is from typical.
SafetyAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 17% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →HealthUnitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi 7.9 miles awayA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 3.8% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Cost of livingBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsC+Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life4.3 library visits per resident; 3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 19 attractions →Casey's Center and 15 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Norwalk. Close and well known come first.
8 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center
9 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol16 mi Theme parkAdventureland
4 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park Zoo
7 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center
8 mi Stadium & arenaDrake StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Norwalk: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Norwalk, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorwalk Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpCounty or districtA county or regional provider runs trash and recyclingTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWarren County AuditorWarren County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP codes50211, 5006150211 98% · 50061 2%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Norwalk.
Norwalk has less tooth loss than most of Iowa, sees little violent crime and has colder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of Iowa.
SafetyA
For safety, Norwalk earns an A
Violent crime is rare: 8 reported in 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
At 2.8 per 1,000 residents, Norwalk’s property crime rate is below both the Iowa town median (7.4) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9). The violent crime rate in Norwalk is 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
90%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.8 per 1,000 residents | 7.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.5 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Norwalk0.5
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Norwalk2.8
Iowa12
U.S.15.5
90th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
94th
percentile among IA towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
45
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsA
For schools, Norwalk earns an A
Its public schools are run by the Norwalk Community School District. Three of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Norwalk Senior High School, with 1,035 students.
85%of IA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 824 | A− |
| Norwalk Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,035 | A− |
| Lakewood Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades 4–5 | Grades 4–5 | 554 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Norwalk ranks healthier than 83% of the country’s towns
Its widest gap with Iowa is tooth loss: 6.8% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 11.6% statewide.
Norwalk beats the Iowa average on 17 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 23% of adults binge drink in Norwalk, against 20% in Iowa’s towns and 16% across U.S. towns. 10% of Norwalk adults report frequent physical distress.
83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.3% | 12% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 35% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
17 better15 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Norwalk | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.8% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.9% | 12% |
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi
7.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
85th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B
Norwalk’s typical home value is about $335K
The median property tax bill is $4,924, against $2,897 across Iowa, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Norwalk home is worth about $335,000, up 0.7% in a year, 41% above the Iowa typical home. 83% of households own their home in Norwalk.
$335KZillow home value
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $838 a month | $913 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Norwalk$335K
Iowa$237K
Market temperature
53
days on market
99.8%
sale-to-list price
+0.7%
value change, 1 year
46
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Norwalk
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 83% of U.S. communities.
17risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Norwalk’s workers commute out
Jobs based here grew from 1,527 in 2013 to 2,622.
Most working residents leave Norwalk for work: only 9% work in town. Since 2013, Norwalk has added 1,095 jobs, to 2,622 in 2023. Among 140 Iowa towns, just 9 have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Norwalk.
9%work in town
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 19% | 8.5% | 11% |
| Median household income | $103,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.1% | 31% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Norwalk9%
Des Moines32%
West Des Moines19%
Urbandale6%
Ankeny3%
9 mi
median commute distance
2,622
jobs based in Norwalk
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
#58for trails in IA
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
1%
conserved · 78 of 7,635 acres
5.0 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Windflower Park | 0.3 mi | 16 |
| 2. 5-Acre Park | — | 7 |
| 3. Norwalk City Park | 0.2 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Norwalk has four seasons and pleasant summers
January nights average 13.1°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 76% of Iowa places with climate records; July afternoons average 85.3°.
Norwalk has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Norwalk’s January low is 13°F. About 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 13°F | 12°F | 22°F |
| July high | 85°F | 84°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–34°
Spring40–61°
Summer63–83°
Fall42–63°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than Iowa overall
People 65 and older are 14% of residents (18% statewide). Norwalk has grown 17% since 2020, to 15,004 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 39% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
37.8median age · IA 38.6
| Norwalk | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 27% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 39% | 25% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 14% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 37.8 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
NorwalkIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school22%
Some college24%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s28%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.1 points). Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Norwalk | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.4% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 14.2% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.4% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.1% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.7% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.6% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.1% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.2% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.6% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.8% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.5% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.5% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.3% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Norwalk
19pages on Norwalk
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 85% of IA districts · 6 schoolsSafetyA0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than IA on 17 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$335K typical home · up 0.7% in a yearWork & commuteA$103K median household income · 2,622 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 17% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Norwalk
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical CenterUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · West Des Moines7.2 miDrake UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines8.2 mi$52,130 tuitionMercy College of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Des Moines8.3 mi$17,664 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Norwalk residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Norwalk for work
Where Norwalk’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,622jobs based in Norwalk
9%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Norwalk
City in Iowa, United States
Norwalk is a city in Warren County, with some small portions extending into Polk County, in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 12,799 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area and is located just south of the Des Moines International Airport.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1856
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 945 ft
- ZIP code
- 50211
- Area code
- 515
Norwalk’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Norwalk.
Des MoinesWest Des MoinesNorwalk
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk | #2 | A+ | B | A | A | A− |
| Des Moines | #134 | D | B− | D | D− | C |
| West Des Moines | #58 | B+ | C | C+ | B+ | A |
Questions about Norwalk
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Norwalk, IA a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Norwalk grades A+ overall, among the top 2% of U.S. towns and #2 of 140 in Iowa. It grades A− for health, A for safety and A for schools.
Is Norwalk, IA expensive?
That is 3.9 years of the area's median household income ($85,890 across the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.