Norwalk, IA vs Port Washington, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Port Washington, WI has a modeled overall cost index 1.6% lower than Norwalk, IA.

Norwalk, IA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,300 / month
Port Washington, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,280 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Norwalk, IA and Port Washington, WI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated savings: $2.54/month in Port Washington, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,969 in Port Washington, WI

Regional cost estimates: Norwalk, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Port Washington, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.6%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$2.54
Savings
Annual Impact
$30.54
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Norwalk, IA

Population:15K
Cost Index:
84.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$335K

Port Washington, WI

Population:13K
Cost Index:
83.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$366K

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Norwalk, IA

The Hawkeye State

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Port Washington, WI

The Badger State

13K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 13K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Norwalk, IA vs Port Washington, WI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 9.9%
Norwalk, IA
$2,050
Port Washington, WI
$1,847
Difference
$204
less
Transportation
↑ 10.2%
Norwalk, IA
$1,362
Port Washington, WI
$1,501
Difference
$139
more
Other
↓ 2.6%
Norwalk, IA
$1,761
Port Washington, WI
$1,715
Difference
$46.46
less
Groceries
↑ 4.1%
Norwalk, IA
$1,027
Port Washington, WI
$1,069
Difference
$42.02
more
All Utilities
↑ 6.7%
Norwalk, IA
$531
Port Washington, WI
$566
Difference
$35.56
more
Healthcare
↑ 4.1%
Norwalk, IA
$769
Port Washington, WI
$801
Difference
$31.19
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,050
To$980
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$1,090
To$1,070
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,300
To$1,280
↓ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,770
To$1,580
↓ $190
Norwalk, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,090/mo

Port Washington, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,070–$1,070/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Norwalk, IA
$7,497
Monthly in Port Washington, WI
$2.54
Difference

Home Values

Norwalk
Port Washington
$335K
Median Value
$366K
↑ +2.2%
YoY Change
↑ +5.7%
↑ +24.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +34.3%

Homes in Port Washington are 9% more expensive than Norwalk

Calculate payment - NorwalkCalculate payment - Port Washington

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$154
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.2%
Rate difference

Norwalk, IA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Iowa State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.7K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.7K
Take-Home Pay
$8,524/month
$102.3K

Port Washington, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Norwalk, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:1.5%

Port Washington, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Norwalk
Port Washington
45 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
67.5%
Good Air Days
68.6%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌡☀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
25 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Norwalk, IA to Port Washington, WI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Port Washington, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Norwalk, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Norwalk to Port Washington moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Port Washington, WI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Norwalk, IA vs Port Washington, WI

How do the cost estimates for Norwalk, IA and Port Washington, WI compare?

Port Washington, WI has a modeled overall cost index 1.6% lower than Norwalk, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Norwalk, IA, the model estimates $149,969 in Port Washington, WI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Norwalk, IA and Port Washington, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,300/month in Norwalk, IA and $1,280/month in Port Washington, WI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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