Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Kenosha leads 15 of 22 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Norwalk
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($194,400 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $781/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,860)
24% less violent crime than Norwalk
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $26,296/yr
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,296 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Kenosha
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Violent Crime
24% lower
285.7 vs 374.4 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$399k less
$194,400 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$26,296
$91,259 vs $64,963/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 15 of 22 categories. Kenosha wins 15 and Norwalk wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Kenosha to Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $593,100 median home), income ($64,963 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Norwalk, CA are about 1,734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.