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 101, which is 1.0x higher 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 90.
The standard of living in Norwalk ranks as #65 most affordable out of the 85 places we measured in Iowa. By definition, that implies Norwalk ranks as the #20 most expensive place in the Hawkeye State.
For more reading on life in Norwalk, check out:
Norwalk Cost Of Living Vs. Iowa
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Norwalk. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Norwalk is 97.
The Groceries index in Norwalk is 96.
The Health index in Norwalk is 114.
The Housing index in Norwalk is 96.
The Transportation index in Norwalk is 95.
The Utilities index in Norwalk is 90.
| Living Expense | Norwalk | Iowa | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 114 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 94 | 100 |
Norwalk Cost Of Living Compared To Iowa Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Iowa, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Norwalk Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Norwalk is $332,836.
The Median Rent in Norwalk is $838.
The Median Income in Norwalk is $102,722.
The Home Value To Income in Norwalk is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Norwalk is 0.1x.
Norwalk, IA Costs By Category
Detailed Norwalk Services costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Norwalk Groceries costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Norwalk Health costs vs. Iowa
Detailed Norwalk Transportation costs vs. Iowa
Norwalk SnackAbility
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 90, 0.9x Norwalk.
Ankeny, IA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Norwalk.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Norwalk.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Norwalk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 106 | 1.0x |
| West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Urbandale, IA | 46,595 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Waukee, IA | 29,236 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Johnston, IA | 24,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Altoona, IA | 21,495 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Clive, IA | 19,012 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Grimes, IA | 16,366 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Indianola, IA | 16,044 | 95 | 0.9x |
