How much does it cost to rent in Norwalk, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Norwalk, CA is $2,753. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Norwalk cheaper than other California cities?

Norwalk falls in the middle range for California, ranking #201 out of 381 cities at $2,753/mo.

When was Norwalk rent data last updated?

Norwalk rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Norwalk, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Norwalk, CA at $2,450 per month, which is 11% below the $2,753 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Norwalk

Name: Average Rent Prices in Norwalk, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 99,789·201st most expensive in California·Norwalk rents are up 6.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,753/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.9%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

+$791

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Norwalk · $2,753

More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

66/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 8% below what Norwalk's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,753/mo

Expected by trend

$2,992/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Norwalk's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,730

1 BR

$1,940

2 BR

$2,450

3 BR

$3,110

4 BR+

$3,450

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,450/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,753 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$33,036/yr

At $2,753/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.9% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Norwalk, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 21.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

99,789

Median income

$100,085

Median age

37.3

Renters

31.7%

Age distribution

21.7%

24.8%

27%

12.1%

14.4%

Under 1821.7%

18–3424.8%

35–5427%

55–6412.1%

65+14.4%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

19.6%

70.4%

13.4%

White19.6%

Black3.9%

Hispanic70.4%

Asian13.4%

Education (25+)

22.9%

27.4%

28.5%

21.3%

No HS diploma22.9%

HS diploma27.4%

Some college28.5%

Bachelor's+21.3%

Housing tenure

68.3%

31.7%

Owner68.3%

Renter31.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Norwalk, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,112 → $2,753

up 30.4%

Income

$83,217 → $100,085

up 20.3%

Population

103,330 → 99,789

down 3.4%

Renter share

33.2% → 31.7%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

20.1% → 21.3%

+1.2 pts

Median age

35.5 → 37.3

+1.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Norwalk, CA paid around $2,112 a month. That figure now sits near $2,753, up 30.4% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Norwalk, CA now reports about $100,085, up from $83,217 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Norwalk, CA losing about 3,541 residents over the five-year window, down 3.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 33.2% to 31.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Norwalk, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Norwalk

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View Norwalk rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Norwalk on your salary?

At $2,753/mo, how Norwalk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 29.6% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 41.7% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 36.2% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20.3% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 15.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 44.6% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 49.4% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 40.1% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Norwalk rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Norwalk. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Norwalk

About renting in Norwalk, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Norwalk is $2,753/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,730/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,450/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,940/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,110/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($100,085/yr), Norwalk ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Norwalk an affordable city for renters?

Norwalk is considered moderate for renters. At $2,753/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($100,085/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Norwalk slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Norwalk?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $110,000/year (~$53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,753/mo in Norwalk. The local median household income is $100,085/yr, meaning the typical Norwalk household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Norwalk?

Rent in Norwalk has increased 6.9% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Norwalk rent compare to other cities in California?

Norwalk is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #201 out of 381 tracked cities at $2,753/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norwalk?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Norwalk ($2,753/mo): Downey ($2,346/mo), Bellflower ($2,372/mo).

What percentage of Norwalk residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 31.7% of Norwalk households are renters, while 68.3% are owner-occupied. Norwalk leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Norwalk rent compare to the national average?

Norwalk's median rent of $2,753/mo is $791 (40%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #201 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

33%

MODERATE

At $2,753/mo, rent takes ~33% of Norwalk's median household income ($100,085/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Norwalk 33%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Norwalk affordability calculator →

Nearby cities