The Town FilesNorwalk, Iowa
City in Warren County · population 12,799 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $303,100
- Household income
- $102,722
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 57
- Median age
- 37.8
Norwalk is a city of 12,799 people in Warren County, Iowa. The median home is worth $303,100, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 93% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Norwalk ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Norwalk is worth $303,100, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $102,722, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $838 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norwalk | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $303,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $838 | $820 |
| Median household income | $102,722 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Norwalk
| People | Norwalk | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Norwalk
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norwalk since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 5, 2022 about 6.7 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 216 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Warren County
Warren County had 13,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,236 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Norwalk itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Norwalk
5 public schools with 3,502 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,035 | 16.7 |
| Norwalk Middle School | 6-8 | 804 | 15.8 |
| Oviatt Elementary School | PK-1 | 579 | 15.2 |
| Lakewood Elementary School | 4-5 | 558 | 15.9 |
| Orchard Hills Elementary | 2-3 | 526 | 15.0 |
Towns near Norwalk
- West Des Moines, IA6.4 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Des Moines, IA7.6 mi · 214,133 people · home $194,700
- Windsor Heights, IA8.4 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Clive, IA10.5 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Indianola, IA10.7 mi · 15,833 people · home $237,500
- Carlisle, IA11.1 mi · 4,160 people · home $234,300
- Urbandale, IA11.4 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
- Waukee, IA12.2 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
Norwalk questions
Is Norwalk, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norwalk scores better for retirees than 27% of Iowa towns and quieter than 22%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Norwalk?
The median owner-occupied home in Norwalk is valued at $303,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,722, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $838 a month.
What is the weather like in Norwalk?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Norwalk get tornadoes?
57 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norwalk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 5, 2022. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)