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.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Norwalk ranks

All →

#2Highest graduation rate in IA #3Fewest uninsured in IA #5Most new homes in IA All IA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code50211

Area code515

Living in Norwalk

Housing in Norwalk

$334K▲ 1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Norwalk home is worth about $334,000, up 1% in a year, 40% above the Iowa typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market53

Sale-to-list99.8%

Sold in May46

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Norwalk

Safety Grade A

Norwalk reports less crime per resident than 91% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Norwalk 0.5

Iowa 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Norwalk 2.8

Iowa 12

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Norwalk

Full picture →

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.

Des Moines

32%

West Des Moines

19%

Urbandale

Ankeny

9%Work in townlive and work in Norwalk 9 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,622Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Norwalk →

Health in Norwalk

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

17better than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▲ 5 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.8%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethIA 11.6% · better 7.9%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIA 12% · better

Care nearby

Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist MediDes Moines · 7.9 mi · ER

Primary Health Care - South Side ClinicDes Moines · 7.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Norwalk · CMS · HRSAHealth in Norwalk →

Natural hazards in Norwalk

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 17% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌡️ Heat waves

0Does Norwalk flood?no paid flood claims on record 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Norwalk MapNorwalk vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Norwalk →

Climate in Norwalk

Full climate →

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.

34° / 17°Winter

61° / 40°Spring

83° / 63°Summer

63° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Norwalk get?About 37 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 20, with the last in spring around Apr 18.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Norwalk →

Schools in Norwalk

All Norwalk schools →

School Grade A

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.

#30Best public schoolsof 139 in IA

DistrictNorwalk Comm School DistrictSchools6

Orchard Hills Elementary A-Elementary · Grades 2–3 · 558 students Lakewood Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades 4–5 · 554 students Oviatt Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–1 · 548 students Norwalk Middle School A-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 824 students Norwalk Senior High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,035 students Main Street SchoolOther · Grades PK–12 · 22 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.