Rents are 9% below what Norwalk's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,662 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Norwalk usually run 0.8% below trend in February and 1.1% above it in July, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.
Rent in Norwalk is 0.1% below its high of $2,665 in February 2026, at $2,662 as of September 2026.
Rent in Norwalk changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Norwalk is 40.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($100,085) is $2,502 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,450); a 3-bedroom is $3,110.
Bellflower, 3 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,221/mo), about $5,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Norwalk. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Norwalk, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Norwalk, CA paid around $2,072 a month. That figure now sits near $2,662, up 28.5% 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.
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At $2,662/mo, how Norwalk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Norwalk rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Norwalk. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Norwalk
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Norwalk is $2,662/mo as of October 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 32% of local median household income ($100,085/yr), Norwalk ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norwalk?
At $2,662/mo, rent takes ~32% of Norwalk's median household income ($100,085/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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