City · Iowa
Norwalk, Iowa
Norwalk, city, in Warren County, Iowa. Norwalk had 15,004 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 17.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,799 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,183 (±22). GEOID 1957675.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,004
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,799 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,183 ±22
Median household income
$102,722
±$14,272 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$303,100
±$27,916 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$838
±$126 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Norwalk and what county is it in?
Norwalk is a city in Warren County, Iowa. It covers 11.6 square miles of land, 1,099 residents per square mile in 2020.
Norwalk is in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Warren County | 12,799 | 100.0% |
| Polk County | land only, no residents | – |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Norwalk, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 15,004 people lived in Norwalk on July 1, 2025, up 17.2% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 12,799 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,183 (±22).
| Measure | Norwalk | Warren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,183 ±22 | 54,409 | +3,205 |
| Households | 5,610 ±264 | 20,679 | +1,371 |
| Average household size | 2.50 ±0.12 | 2.55 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,820 ±270 | 21,921 | +1,488 |
Norwalk's population since 2000
From 6,884 in 2000 to 15,004 in 2025: up 118.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Norwalk as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Norwalk?
The median resident of Norwalk is 37.8 years old; 26.6% are under 18 and 14.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.0%. 1.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Norwalk | Warren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 ±2.8 | 38.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.6% ±2.3 pts | 24.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.1% ±1.8 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 47.3% ±2.1 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0% ±1.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.6% ±2.1 pts | 91.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±1.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4% ±0.9 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.1% ±1.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5% ±1.4 pts | 6.7% | – |
| With a disability | 11.9% ±2.5 pts | 11.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.8% ±1.5 pts | 96.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.8% ±4.8 pts | 33.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.3% ±2.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.8% ±6.4 pts | 89.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Norwalk earn?
Half of Norwalk's 5,610 households earn less than $102,722 a year (±$14,272), against $94,588 in Warren County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $102,644 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Norwalk | Warren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $102,722 ±$14,272 | $94,588 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $124,083 ±$11,643 | $111,331 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,896 ±$4,420 | $43,596 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.2% ±1.6 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.3% ±2.9 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% ±3.3 pts | 96.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.7% ±3.4 pts | 91.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Norwalk?
Owners occupy 82.5% of Norwalk's occupied homes and renters 17.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $303,100 by its owner (±$27,916). The median renter pays $838 a month including utilities, and 31.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Norwalk | Warren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $303,100 ±$27,916 | $269,600 | +$53,392 |
| Median gross rent | $838 ±$126 | $973 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.8% ±16.1 pts | 31.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,921 ±$116 | $1,816 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.5% ±4.8 pts | 82.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 17.5% ±4.8 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Housing units | 5,820 ±270 | 21,921 | +1,488 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±1.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.1% ±10.0 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.3% ±4.6 pts | 76.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 6.3% ±2.6 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 26.7% ±4.9 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.3% ±2.4 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.8% ±2.8 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Norwalk building?
Builders took permits for 237 new housing units in Norwalk in 2025 (179 in single-family houses), 15.8 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Norwalk work and get to work?
74.1% of Norwalk's workers drive alone and 19.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.
| Measure | Norwalk | Warren County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.9% ±3.2 pts | 68.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% ±2.1 pts | 3.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.1% ±4.2 pts | 76.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.5% ±1.6 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.1% ±3.6 pts | 15.3% | +14.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.6 min ±1.9 | 24.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Norwalk?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Norwalk, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $94,839 (Tract 202.02) to $106,570 (Tract 202.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 202.02Warren County | 8,788 | $94,839 |
| Tract 202.01Warren County | 5,582 | $106,570 |
| Tract 110.28Polk County | 5,306 | $75,404 |
| Tract 203Warren County | 3,687 | $116,010 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Norwalk) · Census block assignment files
How does Norwalk compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Norwalk is the 2,401st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 32nd-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Norwalk ranks 36th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 32nd | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 9th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 132nd | 279 |
| Median household income | 36th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 25th | 279 |
| Median home value | 28th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 142nd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 219th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47th | 279 |
| Median age | 184th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 49th | 279 |
| Work from home | 16th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 111th | 279 |
Norwalk's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Norwalk with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Norwalk?
13 of the 57 figures for Norwalk on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Norwalk are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Norwalk.