Is Norwalk Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On May 24, 2022
Norwalk, United States
Safety Index:
79
* Based on Research & Crime Data

There are a lot of cities named Norwalk across America, but this article is on Norwalk, California.

If you are looking for a different Norwalk, feel free to stay and read about this city near the central part of Los Angeles.

This city is right on the border between Orange County and Los Angeles County and freeways in the city can get you just about anywhere you want to go, whether the beach or the mountains, in 30 minutes.

Norwalk is also home to a typical adventure park, with mini-golf, bumper cars, skeeball, and an arcade.

However, this arcade is anything but typical, as you might have seen it in a movie or music video.

Brad Pitt starred in his first major role in a movie filmed at Golf ‘N Stuff.

Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” video was shot here too.

There are six neighborhoods in Norwalk and just over 100,000 people.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) oversees law enforcement here and there is no city-dedicated police force.

There is a sub-station for LASD in Norwalk.

Warnings & Dangers in Norwalk

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The overall risk here is pretty low. Crime rates are average, with some peaks and valleys in the numbers we'll discuss. It's also a diverse community with Latinos/Hispanics making up 70% of the population. The Asian population is 14% and African American is 5%. Caucasians make up 10% of the community.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

You have a lot of options in Norwalk for public transportation. There's the local Norwalk Transit System, used by more than 1.5 million people a year. The Metro, MetroLink, and Long Beach Transit all have stops here, pretty much getting you anywhere you want to be in the L.A. Basin. Taxis and rideshares are available too. All rides are low risk.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Just one pickpocket was reported in 2020, so there's a low risk of this happening to you. That doesn't mean letting your guard down, however. Police say it's best to put a wallet in the front pocket with a button instead of leaving it in the back pocket. It's just harder for a pickpocket to get a hold of it without you noticing.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

You've got to worry about earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, and heatwaves in Norwalk and surrounding cities. It's a medium risk just because of the severity potential, not the frequency.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: LOW

The robbery rates are slightly higher than the national average. There's still a low risk of it happening to you, but it's a little higher than I'd like to see. That said, there's still just a one in 796 chance of being a robbery victim.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The Los Angeles Metro area is always going to be a medium risk due to the population size, tourist attractions like Disneyland, and the major corporations here. Norwalk is 17 miles from L.A., so it's in the same risk category.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: LOW

The city has a website page dedicated to scams, but there aren't any that would impact a tourist. This should be a low risk for you. Just remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, or someone asks you to ever wire money or purchase a gift card for them, run!

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The sexual assault rate is half the national average, which is a good sign for female travelers in this area. You should have a low risk, but this is a city close to a major metro area, and it's densely populated. Practice good personal safety steps and you'll be fine.

Tap Water Risk

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The city's tap water is safe to drink and it meets all standards. There have been no recent health violations giving it a low risk.

Safest Places to Visit in Norwalk

We talked a little about Golf ‘N Stuff, but it’s a great place to visit with activities for the family and also a great conversation starter to discuss the movies or music videos shot here and in other Norwalk locations.

Stop by the D.D. Johnston-Hargitt House Museum and go back to the days when Norwalk was founded.

This is the home of one of the city’s founding families.

The Gilbert Sproul Museum is another place to learn about the history of the city back when Native Americans roamed the land.

Visit the Cultural Arts Center to see some of the best paintings and sculptures by locals.

There are classes for kids too, where they can express their artistic side.

In nearby Bellflower, you can visit the Los Angeles County Fire Museum to learn about the history and advancements in firefighting over the years.

If you plan on visiting a beach, going to the mountains, or heading to downtown L.A., you’re just about 30 minutes away from it.

Aside from the things mentioned above, there isn’t really a lot to do in Norwalk that’s going to fill full vacation days.

Places to Avoid in Norwalk

Crime maps show the incidents are pretty well spread out throughout the city.

In a surprising trend twist, the area along the 605 is one of the safest.

Usually, cities have more crime near freeways, but not Norwalk.

The thing about Norwalk is there just isn’t much for a tourist to do, leaving people to consider just walking around aimlessly or hanging out in a park for hours.

Since it’s a densely populated area, with the known gang and drug issues, it’s smart to make plans of where you are going instead of wandering around.

If you want to avoid traffic, don’t stay in Norwalk. Seriously, this city is close to four major freeways.

You’ll have great access, but you’ll also have a lot of traffic.

Just be prepared for it as it’s part of life in California.

With so many public transportation options, you might want to ditch the car and let someone else take the wheel for a fee.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Norwalk

  1. Sign up for Nixle alerts through the LASD. You’ll be informed of crimes, missing people, weather developments, and civil emergencies. Since it’s a countywide system, you can feel safer knowing you’re informed no matter where you go in LA County.
  2. If you’re going to be visiting Orange County, sign up for similar alerts through OC Alert. Now you’re covered with safety information for the bulk of the Los Angeles metro area.
  3. Even though there isn’t a police department in Norwalk, you can still keep in touch with the LASD substation. There’s a Twitter account hosted by the deputies who patrol this town. You should follow them to stay informed, learn about crime crackdowns, and get updates on community events during your visit.
  4. While you’re on your mobile device, download the MyShake app. This will alert you to earthquakes in the area and is so efficient you might get the notification of an earthquake before you feel the ground shake.
  5. Did I just scare you with #4? It’s perfectly normal in California to have some smaller earthquakes frequently. It’s as normal as rain in Seattle and thunderstorms in the Midwest. You can learn about earthquake safety in that app as well, so you can be better prepared just in case of a big one.
  6. Deputies here are present and seen in the community, so that should make you feel safe. They also love to do organized events like DUI checkpoints, pedestrian safety violation crackdowns, and weapons checks. If you get stopped, follow all instructions from the officers and don’t panic.
  7. Since crime trends can change, you should check up on the LASD Crime Mapping website before booking your hotel. You can search by address and crime type to see the latest reports. Right now, the official reports from the FBI are from 2020, and a lot might have changed in that time frame.
  8. Go511.org is a great website to check traffic in and around Norwalk. It shows delays, construction projects, and live cameras of major intersections.
  9. One of the biggest tragedies to impact Norwalk is honored with a plaque at a strip mall near Firestone and Pioneer boulevards. This was the site where two military planes crashed in the air and landed in Norwalk in 1958. 48 people were killed, including a woman on the ground.
  10. You are going to have a lot of ethnic food to choose from here with such a diverse population. Check online reviews so you can plot your food map for your visit. I watched a video about TNT Tacos while researching this article, and it made me so hungry I ordered Mexican food locally.

So... How Safe Is Norwalk Really?

It’s as safe as any average city.

The violent crime rate is at California and the national average.

Property crime rates are a good 30% lower than both state and national averages.

Here are your chances of being a victim of a crime in Norwalk:

  • Violent Crime: 1 in 235
  • Robbery: 1 in 796
  • Theft: 1 in 90

There are some really dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles County and Norwalk is not one of them.

Yes, it’s diverse, so you’ll need to be accepting of all races and maybe deal with some language barriers as you interact with people.

There is gang activity here, but it’s mostly a situation where if you don’t mess with them, they won’t mess with you.

If you come from a big city, nothing about Norwalk will surprise you.

If you come from a more rural area of an expansive suburban location, this might feel a little suffocating and outdated for you.

How Does Norwalk Compare?

CitySafety Index
Norwalk79
San Diego67
Miami55
Honolulu65
Chicago65
Dallas64
Memphis54
Melbourne (Australia)80
Montreal (Canada)81
Sydney (Australia)80
Santiago de Chile (Chile)71
Vienna (Austria)88
Hong Kong (China)70

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

The Visa is handled at the airport and no additional processing or registration is needed to be in Norwalk.

Currency

Currency

The USD is the only currency accepted here, and you really don't need cash. Just about everything can be purchased on credit cards or through mobile app payments.

Weather

Weather

You'll love the weather here. The coldest winter day averages 68°(F) for a high and 46°(F) for a low. You'll want to have a jacket or sweatshirt for the chilly nights. The heat of the summer gets up to 86°(F) for a high and 66°(F) for a low. Fall and spring bring highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Bring layers of clothing and good walking shoes.

Airports

Airports

The closest airport is Long Beach International, just 10 miles away. Los Angeles International Airport is 20 miles east. John Wayne Airport in Orange County is 24 miles southeast. The Hollywood Burbank Airport is 29 miles north.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance to Norwalk is a great idea, especially if you're traveling in the summer, fall, or winter when wildfires can shut down freeways and impact air travel.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Norwalk Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 15° C
Feb 15° C
Mar 17° C
Apr 18° C
May 20° C
Jun 22° C
Jul 24° C
Aug 25° C
Sep 24° C
Oct 21° C
Nov 17° C
Dec 14° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
212122232426293029272320
Low
°C
891112151719191815118
High
°F
707072737579848684817368
Low
°F
464852545963666664595246

California - Safety by City

CitySafety Index
Alameda86
Alhambra84
Anaheim73
Bakersfield66
Barstow62
Berkeley64
Burbank86
Chino Hills82
Chula Vista81
Compton41
Concord74
Costa Mesa83
Daly City76
El Cajon86
El Monte76
Escondido91
Eureka87
Fairfield85
Fontana68
Fremont74
Fresno38
Fullerton74
Garden Grove78
Hawthorne62
Hayward87
Hemet65
Huntington Beach78
Indio89
Inglewood68
Irvine82
Lake Forest83
Lancaster64
Livermore87
Long Beach63
Los Angeles56
Merced92
Milpitas91
Mission Viejo85
Modesto64
Moreno Valley82
Mountain View87
Newport Beach84
Norwalk79
Oakland57
Oceanside85
Oxnard63
Palm Springs65
Palmdale78
Pasadena78
Pomona61
Rancho Cucamonga91
Redding71
Redlands86
Redondo Beach88
Redwood City85
Rialto58
Riverside57
Sacramento51
Salinas64
San Bernardino63
San Diego67
San Francisco61
San Jose58
San Leandro78
San Luis Obispo88
San Mateo84
Santa Ana71
Santa Barbara72
Santa Clara82
Santa Clarita76
Santa Cruz94
Santa Monica64
Santa Rosa91
Simi Valley84
South Gate63
Stockton38
Sunnyvale87
Temecula87
Thousand Oaks86
Torrance86
Union City88
Vallejo65
Ventura76
Victorville63
West Covina88
Yreka93

Where to Next?

Share Your Experience

Share
Facebook Pinterest