Mount Vernon NY vs Norwalk CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Mount Vernon, NY

New York · Population: 72,528

  • Median HH Income$77,171
  • Median Home Price$579,771
  • Unemployment6.9%
  • Bachelor's+35.0%

Norwalk, CA

California · Population: 100,713

  • Median HH Income$98,709
  • Median Home Price$765,319
  • Unemployment5.6%
  • Bachelor's+21.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Mount Vernon
72,528
Norwalk
100,713
Norwalk +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Mount Vernon
N/A
Norwalk
N/A
Median Age
Mount Vernon
41.9
Norwalk
36.5
Norwalk +
Foreign Born
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Norwalk
32.6%
Norwalk +
White
Mount Vernon
16.2%
Norwalk
24.0%
Norwalk +
Black
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
4.2%
Asian
Mount Vernon
2.2%
Norwalk
13.8%
Norwalk +
Hispanic
Mount Vernon
18.3%
Norwalk
69.5%
Norwalk +
Spanish at Home
Mount Vernon
N/A
Norwalk
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Norwalk
$98,709
Norwalk +
Per Capita Income
Mount Vernon
$42,158
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
$31,989
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
$77,230
Unemployment Rate
Mount Vernon
6.9%
Norwalk
5.6%
Norwalk +
Poverty Rate
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Norwalk
9.7%
Norwalk +
Bachelor's Degree+
Mount Vernon
35.0%
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
21.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Mount Vernon
$579,771
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
$765,319
Homeownership Rate
Mount Vernon
42.1%
Norwalk
68.1%
Norwalk +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
434
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
1736
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
2388

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
33.2%
Norwalk
26.9%
Norwalk +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Norwalk
12.7%
Norwalk +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Norwalk
16.1%
Norwalk +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
15.4%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Norwalk
15.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Norwalk
10.5%
Norwalk +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Norwalk
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Norwalk
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
8.1 µg/m³
Norwalk
7.9 µg/m³
Norwalk +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Mount Vernon
75.0%
Norwalk
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Mount Vernon
38.6 min
Norwalk
32.1 min
Norwalk +

Which City is Right for You?

Norwalk leads in median household income at $98,709, while mount Vernon offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $579,771. On public safety, Mount Vernon is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Norwalk. Norwalk has a lower unemployment rate at 5.6%, and Norwalk has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Norwalk scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.9%.

Compare More Cities

About Mount Vernon & Norwalk