Norwalk, IA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Norwalk, IA Summary

Cost of living in Norwalk research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Norwalk is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Iowa, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Norwalk is 99, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Norwalk is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Norwalk ranks as the #66 cheapest in Iowa out of 85.

  • Norwalk ranks as the #2,497 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Norwalk is $335,775.

  • The median income in Norwalk is $94,583.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
99
Norwalk's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Norwalk, IA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Norwalk has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Iowa, Norwalk has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Iowa's index of 91.

The standard of living in Norwalk ranks as #66 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Norwalk ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.

For more reading on life in Norwalk, check out:

66 out of 85
In Iowa
2,497 out of 6,489
In America

Norwalk Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Norwalk. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Norwalk is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Norwalk is 100.

  • The Health index in Norwalk is 92.

  • The Housing index in Norwalk is 110.

  • The Transportation index in Norwalk is 92.

  • The Utilities index in Norwalk is 85.

Living Expense Norwalk Iowa National Average
Overall 99 91 100
Services 96 97 100
Groceries 100 97 100
Health 92 98 100
Housing 110 75 100
Transportation 92 100 100
Utilities 85 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Norwalk Cost of Living Vs. IA

Norwalk, IA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Iowa, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Norwalk is $335,775.

  • The Median Rent in Norwalk is $869.

  • The Median Income in Norwalk is $94,583.

  • The Home Value To Income in Norwalk is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Norwalk is 0.11x.

Statistic Norwalk Iowa United States
Median Home Value $335,775 $230,258 $303,400
Median Rent $869 $949 $1,348
Median Income $94,583 $73,147 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.6x 3.1x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.11x 0.16x 0.21x
$335,775
Median Home Value
$869
Median Rent
$94,583
Median Income

Norwalk, IA Costs By Category

Detailed Norwalk Services Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Norwalk Iowa
Shampoo $1.35 $1.28
Movie $11.17 $12.13
Bowling $20.87 $18.0
Haircut $20.63 $24.26
Beauty Salon $41.0 $45.56

Detailed Norwalk Groceries Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Norwalk Iowa
Ground Beef $6.36 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.38 $1.57
Milk $4.82 $4.67
Potatoes $4.81 $4.93
Pizza $11.84 $12.09
Beer $9.82 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.69 $3.7

Detailed Norwalk Health Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Norwalk Iowa
Optometrist $125.17 $125.68
Doctor $129.05 $135.78
Dentist $96.6 $113.29

Detailed Norwalk Transportation Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Norwalk Iowa
Gasoline $3.19 $3.46
Tire Balancing $52.49 $59.92

Detailed Norwalk Utilities Costs Vs. Iowa

Item Norwalk Iowa
All Electricity $154.71 $193.99
Phone $186.87 $192.25

Norwalk SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
4
Safety
9.5
Amenities
8
Education
9
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Norwalk

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Norwalk. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Norwalk.

  • Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Norwalk.

  • West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Norwalk.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Norwalk
Des Moines, IA 212,464 89 0.9x
Ankeny, IA 70,542 101 1.0x
West Des Moines, IA 69,893 102 1.0x
Urbandale, IA 46,026 103 1.0x
Waukee, IA 26,974 106 1.1x
Johnston, IA 24,196 109 1.1x
Altoona, IA 20,592 97 1.0x
Clive, IA 18,776 109 1.1x
Indianola, IA 15,918 90 0.9x
Grimes, IA 15,810 99 1.0x

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