Whittier vs Norwalk
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $644,700 in Norwalk and $822,600 in Whittier.
- Whittier is growing faster: -3.5% since 2020 vs -5.5%.
- Commutes are shorter in Norwalk (30 vs 33 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Whittier, CA | Norwalk, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 85,815 | 97,104 |
| Growth since 2020 | -3.5% | -5.5% |
| People per square mile | 5,858 | 10,004 |
| Median age | 38.4 | 37.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30% | 21% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $97,201 | $100,085 |
| Median home value | $822,600 | $644,700 |
| Home value to income | 8.5× | 6.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,906 | $2,090 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 113.6 | 113.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 170.4 | 170.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $85,200 | $85,200 |
| Homeowners | 58% | 68% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 33.2 | 29.5 |
| Work from home | 12% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.4% | 5.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 9.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 69° / 46° | 69° / 46° |
| July high / low | 84° / 66° | 84° / 66° |
| Precipitation per year | 12 in | 12 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 39 | 39 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 11 | 11 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 11% | 11% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +31.9% | +31.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Whittier: September to July. Norwalk: September to July.
Full monthly tables: Whittier weather by month and Norwalk weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in Whittier and $85,200 in Norwalk. Moving from Whittier to Norwalk, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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