2025 · NorwalkIowaCaboose · Wikimedia Commons
Norwalk’s story
170 years in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1856Norwalk is settled
- 2025NorwalkIowaCaboose
NorwalkIA
A town of 14,183, settled in 1856. Public schools that outperform most of Iowa.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
14,183
+43.1% since 2010
Typical home
$334K
+1% in a year
Household income
$103K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Jobs based here
2,622
A commuter town
What makes Norwalk stand out
The 3 things Norwalk does most differently from other towns.
A growing town
Norwalk has grown 43.1% since 2010
8,945 people in 2010; 14,183 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Norwalk’s report card
SchoolsABeats 85% of IA districtsHousing$334K40% above the IA typical homeCommute9 miHalf of commuters travel lessHealthA−Healthier than 83% of U.S. townsSafetyALess crime than 91% of U.S. townsHazards17/100Very low risk of storm & flood damageClimate85°/13°Summer high · winter low · 37″ snowOutdoors5 miof trails · 1% conserved
Now in Norwalk
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Norwalk is #2 of 121 in IA for “Highest graduation rate”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Norwalk’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Norwalk. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Norwalk’s public schools outperform 85% of Iowa districts
The public schools Norwalk’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 85% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard Hills Elementary | 2–3 | 558 | A− |
| Lakewood Elementary School | 4–5 | 554 | A− |
| Oviatt Elementary School | PK–1 | 548 | Not graded |
| Norwalk Middle School | 6–8 | 824 | A− |
| Norwalk Senior High School | 9–12 | 1,035 | A− |
| Main Street School Private | PK–12 | 22 |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduationAll 6 schools →
Housing
A typical Norwalk home is worth about $334K
The typical Norwalk home is worth about $334,000, up 1% in a year, 40% above the Iowa typical home.
$334KZillow home value
Typical home value
Norwalk$334K
Iowa$240K
Market temperature
53
days on market
99.8%
sale-to-list price
+1%
value change, 1 year
46
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Norwalk
Most working residents leave Norwalk for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Des Moines (32%), West Des Moines (19%) and Urbandale (6%). Half commute less than 9 miles.
9%work in town
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
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Norwalk beats the Iowa average on 17 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
A−Health Grade
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
89th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 91% of U.S. towns
Norwalk reports less crime per resident than 91% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
ASafety Grade
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
91st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
88th
percentile among IA towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
45
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 17% of U.S. communities.
17risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Norwalk has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
37″snow a winter
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, 1991–2020Full climate →
Outdoors
1% of Norwalk is conserved land
5.0 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves.
1%conserved
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-USParks & trails →
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
- Population
- 12,799
- 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
More about Norwalk
Still missing for Norwalk:local news coverageupcoming events