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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Norwalk, IA is $1,189. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Norwalk cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Norwalk falls in the middle range for Iowa, ranking #20 out of 32 cities at $1,189/mo.

When was Norwalk rent data last updated?

Norwalk rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IA

Norwalk

Name: Average Rent Prices in Norwalk, IA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 14,183·20th most expensive in Iowa·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,189/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$776

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Norwalk rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Norwalk · $1,189

More affordable than 93% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

14% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,189/mo, rent takes about 14% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$48,000/yr

Local median income

$102,722/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Norwalk's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$990

1 BR

$1,050

2 BR

$1,260

3 BR

$1,690

4 BR+

$1,700

Research median

$1,260/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$14,268/yr

At $1,189/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Norwalk, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 38.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

14,183

Median income

$102,722

Median age

37.8

Renters

17.5%

Age distribution

26.6%

19.5%

27.3%

12.6%

14.1%

Under 1826.6%

18–3419.5%

35–5427.3%

55–6412.6%

65+14.1%

Gender

47.3%

52.7%

Male47.3%

Female52.7%

Race & ethnicity

94.4%

White94.4%

Hispanic3%

Asian1.2%

Other1.4%

Education (25+)

21.6%

37.3%

38.8%

No HS diploma2.2%

HS diploma21.6%

Some college37.3%

Bachelor's+38.8%

Housing tenure

82.5%

17.5%

Owner82.5%

Renter17.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Norwalk, IA has changed in 5 years

Income

$91,610 → $102,722

up 12.1%

Population

12,592 → 14,183

up 12.6%

Renter share

18.2% → 17.5%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

40% → 38.8%

-1.2 pts

Median age

36 → 37.8

+1.8 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $91,610 to $102,722 across the same window, up 12.1% versus 2021. Census counts show Norwalk, IA adding about 1,591 residents over the five-year window, up 12.6% on net.

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 $1,189/mo, how Norwalk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 16.4% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 23.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 20.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 11.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 8.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 24.7% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 22.2% income

affordable

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, IA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Norwalk is $1,189/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,260/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,690/mo.

At 14% of local median household income ($102,722/yr), Norwalk ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Norwalk an affordable city for renters?

Norwalk is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,189/mo, rent takes approximately 14% of the local median household income ($102,722/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Norwalk falls comfortably within that range.

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 $48,000/year (~$23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,189/mo in Norwalk. The local median household income is $102,722/yr, meaning the typical Norwalk household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Norwalk?

Rent in Norwalk has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Norwalk rent compare to other cities in Iowa?

Norwalk is middle-of-the-pack for Iowa for rent, ranking #20 out of 32 tracked cities at $1,189/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norwalk?

Des Moines is nearby and more affordable at $1,121/mo, which is $68 less than Norwalk.

What percentage of Norwalk residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 17.5% of Norwalk households are renters, while 82.5% are owner-occupied. Norwalk leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.