Indianola vs Norwalk
A side-by-side look at two Des Moines metro areas buyers often weigh against each other — current values, rents, market pace, and demographics.
Side by side
| Metric | Indianola | Norwalk |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $317,949 | $337,407 |
| Value change, past year | +3% | +1.8% |
| Typical rent / mo | $1,382 | $1,189 |
| Homes for sale | 85 | 79 |
| Median days to pending | 18 days | 26 days |
| Listings with price cuts | 27% | 30% |
| Median household income | $75,453 | $102,722 |
| Homeownership | 70% | 83% |
| Population | 16,044 | 14,183 |
Home value, rent & market activity: Zillow Research (2026-08). Income & demographics: U.S. Census ACS (5-year). Cheaper figure highlighted where the two differ.
What the numbers say
- Indianola is the more affordable of the two — typical home values run about 6% below Norwalk.
- Renting is cheaper in Norwalk, which matters if you plan to rent for a year before buying.
- Homes go under contract faster in Indianola, so expect to move quicker there and to have a bit more room to negotiate in Norwalk.
- Norwalk has the higher median household income of the two.
The character of each
Indianola
A genuine small college town south of the metro, with a longer commute and lower prices.
Norwalk
A growing south-metro city that has stayed closer to town than Indianola.
Schools
Indianola: Served by the Indianola Community School District, which covers the city and a substantial rural area around it.
Norwalk: Served by the Norwalk Community School District, which has expanded alongside the city's growth.
Getting around
Indianola: South of the metro on US-65/69 — commonly 30+ minutes to downtown Des Moines, and the longest regular commute among these areas.
Norwalk: South metro via I-35 and Highway 28; commonly 20–25 minutes to downtown Des Moines.
Figures are area-wide typicals, not a valuation of any specific home. Verify school boundaries, property taxes, and current prices by address. Not real-estate or financial advice.