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Norwalk vs Downey

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (3.4× in Downey) and homeowners (+17.2 pts renters in Downey).

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Norwalk, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 99,789 people
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Downey, CAHometown of 64 notable peopleCalifornia · 110,939 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

NorwalkAn outdoors town
Outdoors#16 most walkable in CA3.7 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 55%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#218 for schools in CAof 574 towns All about Norwalk →
DowneyHometown of 64 notable people
Famous people64 notable peopleborn in Downey HealthHealthier than 61%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#99 most walkable in CA13 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves All about Downey →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails3.4×
Downey has more miles of trail
Downey 12.6 miNorwalk 3.7 mi
Homeowners+17.2 pts renters
Downey has more renters
Norwalk 68.3%Downey 51.1%
Home values+24%
Homes cost more in Downey
Downey $796,600Norwalk $644,700
Property tax bill+20%
Tax bills are bigger in Downey
Downey $5,323Norwalk $4,424
Jobs per worker+66%
Downey is more of a job hub
Downey 0.88Norwalk 0.53
Growth since 2010+4.9 pts
Downey has grown faster since 2010
Downey +2.3%Norwalk -2.6%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $700 more a month in Downey

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Norwalk$4,400/mo
Typical home $757K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $2,090/mo · Housing →
Downey$5,100/mo
Typical home $879K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $1,937/mo · Housing →

The difference: $700 a month, about $8,400 a year, between Downey and Norwalk.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Norwalk and Downey share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

NorwalkDowneyNorwalkDowney
Norwalk ↔ Downey3.4 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
1,100 Norwalk residents work in Downey (2.5% of its workers)
698 Downey residents work in Norwalk (1.4% of its workers)
Work & commute in Norwalk →
Report cards

Downey places higher on 11 of 20 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
C−NorwalkSafer than 24% of U.S. towns –DowneyNot graded
Schools
A−NorwalkBetter than 75% of districts in the state A−DowneyBetter than 76% of districts in the state
Health
B−NorwalkHealthier than 55% of U.S. towns BDowneyHealthier than 61% of U.S. towns
8Norwalk
11Downey

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most new homesHousing · 438 towns #419#275 Most trailsOutdoors · 677 towns #584#381 Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #712#530 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 844 towns #177#3 Most conserved landOutdoors · 777 towns #508#386 Lowest property taxCost of living · 835 towns #398#513 Most affordableCost of living · 835 towns #427#534 Fewest smokersHealth · 844 towns #329#235

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Norwalk’s rankings →

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
NorwalkDowney
Snow a year0″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)90th83rd
Outdoors & history
NorwalkDowney
Trails4 mi13 mi
Conserved land2.5%4.4%
Settled19571873
National Register places22
Archive photos1724
Famous people born here—64
Community
NorwalkDowney
Library hours a week40 hrs54 hrs
Colleges in town1—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

NorwalkDowney
People
Population 99,789Lowest 110,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.6%Lowest CA: +6.1% +2.3%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 37.3±0.9Lowest about the CA average 37.7±1.2Highest about the CA average
Downey and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.7%±1.2Highest CA: 22% 21.3%±1.2Lowest CA: 22%
Norwalk and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.4%±0.9Highest CA: 15.7% 14.2%±0.9Lowest CA: 15.7%
Norwalk and Downey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.3%Lowest CA: 37.1% 26.1%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.9%±0.7Lowest CA: 7.6% 8.3%±0.7Highest CA: 7.6%
Downey and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $100,085±$5kHighest about the CA average $90,699±$4kLowest 8% below CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $644,700±$8kLowest 12% below CA $796,600±$15kHighest 8% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,090±$57Highest about the CA average $1,937±$41Lowest 5% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,424Lowest 14% below CA $5,323Highest 4% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57%±4.8Lowest CA: 55.3% 57.9%±4.2Highest CA: 55.3%
Downey and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 9.3%Highest CA: 12% 9%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 68.3%Highest CA: 55.9% 51.1%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1957Lowest 19 yrs older than CA 1959Highest 17 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minLowest about the CA average 31 minHighest 8% above CA
Work from home 7.9%±0.9Lowest CA: 17.2% 9.2%±1.1Highest CA: 17.2%
Downey and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.7%Lowest 8.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.53Lowest 0.88Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Los Angeles (15%)Los Angeles (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 2% work in Downey1% work in Norwalk
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.5%Lowest 4.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 3.7 miLowest 12.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 1.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 13 13
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 167Highest 129Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #218 of 574 in CA—
School district Little Lake City Elementary · Norwalk-La Mirada UnifiedLos Angeles County ROP · Downey Unified
High school in town Norwalk HighDowney High
Students per teacherat that high school 23.8Lowest 23.9Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Norwalk neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 5d

Norwalk's Bright Young Leaders

1 neighbor in Norwalk can answer.

Downey neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Downey’s Town Square.

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Bordering Norwalk

S
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Santa Fe Springs18,871 people · $660K homes
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Cerritos47,867 people · $935K homes
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Bellflower76,819 people · $706K homes

Towns like Norwalk

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Manteca89,043 people · $590K homes
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Antioch116,477 people · $630K homes
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Indio91,950 people · $458K homes
V
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Vacaville102,596 people · $621K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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