Norwalk offers small-town charm near the Des Moines metro
A southernmost suburb of the Des Moines metro area, Norwalk is between Des Moines International Airport to the north and Iowa farmland to the south. The area consists of midcentury homes, brand-new subdivisions and golf course communities, where residents often drive to neighboring Des Moines and West Des Moines for shopping options and office jobs. There are more businesses coming, however, as Norwalk Central – a mixed-use mega-development in Norwalk's heart – finishes new commercial and residential development along with an indoor sports facility, baseball fields and a park with a band shell.
Homes on the northeast side back up to Echo Valley Country Club.
Softball, soccer, and baseball all have their time to shine at Norwalk-McAninch Sports Complex.
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New construction drives growth as land opens up in Norwalk
Around half of the recently sold homes in Norwalk were built after 2020. “We’ve had a lot of growth down there just because we were running out of land,” says Kris Mehmen, a Realtor with Re/Max Precision who sells in the area. “You had to go pretty far west in the Waukee area to build new construction, and Norwalk had a lot of areas that builders could still build in.” The median price in Norwalk is $330,000, which is comparable to West Des Moines’ median price but higher than Des Moines’ median price, in the low $200,000s. Houses stay on the market for an average of 95 days, higher than the national average of 53 days.
Waterfront homes on Lake Colechester complete with docks.
Ranches and split-level homes make up the more established neighborhoods.
The area features many new construction homes and neighborhoods.
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Parks, trails and sports facilities offer year-round recreation
Norwalk’s summers are hot and humid, while its winter temperatures dip below freezing, so Norwalk Parks & Recreation maintains indoor and outdoor facilities year-round. Billy O. Phillips Park is just one of several neighborhood playgrounds anchoring residential areas. The Norwalk Aquatic Center is a large public pool with a waterslide, and an ice-skating rink on North Avenue opens on cold winter days. Complimenting the baseball and softball fields at McAninch Sports Complex is the City State Bank Norwalk Fieldhouse. Facilities include:
Four multipurpose courts for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball
A two-lane indoor track surrounding the courts
A lounge area with foosball and ping pong, as well as space for community programming
Additional parks will be added to this core development in the coming years. Norwalk also has two regionally popular golf courses: private Echo Valley Country Club and public Legacy Golf Club.
The modern playground equipment at Billy O'Phillips Park is a huge hit with children.
Neighbors gather at the Starkweather Shelter in Billy O'Phillips Park.
The log-cabin-themed playground of Windflower Park harkens back to the city's origins.
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Most homes are zoned for Norwalk schools, with some in metro districts
Norwalk Community School District encompasses a five-school pathway, from Oviatt Elementary School for prekindergarten through first grade to Norwalk Senior High School. Small portions of the city fall within the Des Moines or West Des Moines school zones. Regardless of district, all high schools offer dual enrollment credits at Des Moines Area Community College, which has campuses in Des Moines and West Des Moines. The state’s open enrollment policy allows students to transfer to other districts within the state if there is space available.
Oviatt Elementary School serves Norwalk students in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.
Lakewood Elementary School is located in Norwalk.
Norwalk Middle School serves local students in grades 6-8.
Norwalk High School serves students in grades 9-12.
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Norwalk offers short commutes and new bike trail connections
“Norwalk was a small, little community, and it has grown... there’s a window company there called Windsor Window that has brought a lot of people,” Mehman says. Des Moines, West Des Moines and the surrounding suburbs are expanding with new businesses and job opportunities. Though Norwalk is outside the reach of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority bus system, the city is about 10 miles from Downtown Des Moines by car and just 6 miles south of Des Moines International Airport.
Norwalk residents can reach downtown Des Moines, the airport or medical centers in nearby cities without exiting onto the highway. However, Interstate 35 is an access point for the metro area's Urban Loop freeway system. “One of the big advantages to living here, that I hope doesn’t go away, is that it’s easy to get from one area to another,” Mehmen says. Norwalk is also a recent addition to the Des Moines area's regional network of bike trails, with the 2-mile Great Western Trail connection opened in 2021.
Affordable options in Lakewood contrast with upscale estates nearby
Norwalk has a variety of neighborhoods offering a mix of newer homes and older properties. "The Lakewood neighborhood off of Lake Colechester is a small community very close to the rest of Des Moines," says Matt Fuelberth, a Realtor with Iowa Realty and host of the YouTube channel Life in Des Moines. "It's a unique place in Des Moines to find those older homes with a lot of character in an affordable price range." At the higher end of the community, larger homes are available in subdivisions like Silverado Estates, Echo Valley Estates and The Legacy, a golf course community with a neighborhood pool and clubhouse.
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Patrick Johnson
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On average, homes in Norwalk, IA sell after 91 days on the market compared to the national average of 54 days. The median sale price for homes in Norwalk, IA over the last 12 months is $335,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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