© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Walnut Creek.
About
Life in Walnut Creek
If you're considering Walnut Creek, understand upfront that this is an expensive place to live—median home prices hover around $1 million, with many neighborhoods well above that, and rents average $2,680 monthly. You're paying for proximity to the Bay Area, good schools across multiple districts, and genuine affluence; the median household income is $130,432 and nearly 70% of residents hold college degrees. The job market is stable with a 4.5% unemployment rate, though many residents commute 32+ minutes for work, and you'll likely need a car despite BART access.
Walnut Creek at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Foreign-Born
24.4%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Walnut Creek: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Walnut Creek, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (9.8%), and 7.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.5%
of residents
65 and Older
29.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.9%
of households
Married Couples
45.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.09
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 32% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Walnut Creek
In Walnut Creek, rent runs 32% above the CA average, and home values are 44% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,283
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $990,472 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Walnut Creek
Unemployment in Walnut Creek is 1 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Walnut Creek Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.6 min avg
How Walnut Creek residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Walnut Creek, most residents drive alone to work (50%), and 57% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 26 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Walnut Creek runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
217
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,419.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Walnut Creek Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Contra Costa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Contra Costa County, which includes Walnut Creek, the most common type is strong wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flood | $70 |
| 2023 | 9 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 12 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 32 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
264 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Contra Costa County, which includes Walnut Creek, is typically good — 195 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
195
per year
Moderate Days
168
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Walnut Creek has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
4
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
60
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 42°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 63°F | 44°F | 3.57" |
| Mar | 68°F | 47°F | 2.57" |
| Apr | 72°F | 49°F | 1.23" |
| May | 78°F | 53°F | 0.61" |
| Jun | 85°F | 57°F | 0.12" |
| Jul | 88°F | 58°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 88°F | 59°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 86°F | 58°F | 0.06" |
| Oct | 78°F | 53°F | 0.68" |
| Nov | 67°F | 46°F | 1.87" |
| Dec | 59°F | 41°F | 3.55" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
2.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Concord
John Muir Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Concord
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Martinez
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education24.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek's student/teacher ratio is 24.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 70.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
70.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Walnut Creek (within 15 miles)
University of California-Berkeley
12.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,068 students · in-state tuition $17,198 · 94% graduate · median earnings $100,212 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 15,358 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $56,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,320 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $49,834 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,842 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,456 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $48,574 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Mary's College of California
5.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $59,769 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
11 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
22 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
24 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayPublic Libraries in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek Library
1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
Ygnacio Valley Library
2661 Oak Grove Rd., Walnut Creek
Cities Near Walnut Creek
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Walnut Creek?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Walnut Creek FAQ
Is Walnut Creek, California affordable?⌄
Walnut Creek's median rent is $2,680/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $130,432/year. Median home value is $1,057,300.
Is Walnut Creek, California safe?⌄
Walnut Creek's violent crime rate was 217 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2419 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Walnut Creek, California?⌄
Walnut Creek has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Walnut Creek, California?⌄
The cost of living in Walnut Creek is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,680/month and median household income is $130,432/year. The median home value is $1,057,300. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Walnut Creek, California?⌄
The average commute in Walnut Creek is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from