Walnut Creek, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 70,088 Household income: $130,432 Rent: $2,680

Overview

Total population

70,088

Rent

$2,680

Year built

1974

Household income

$130,432

Per capita income

$85,521

Poverty rate

6.4%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

70,088

Adults over 25

55,230

Total households

33,072

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$130,432

Per capita income

$85,521

Poverty rate

6.4%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

49.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,680

Year built

1974

Households that rent

35.6%

Households that own

64.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

64%

Black

1.9%

Asian

17.3%

Two or more races

12.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

12.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

87.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

69.2%

Commute time to work

31 mins

Work from home

30.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

14%

High school graduate or GED

8.9%

Some college or associate degree

6.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

70.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Walnut Creek, CA with: California United States

Walnut Creek, CA

Total population70,088

Rent$2,680

Year built1974

Household income$130,432

Per capita income$85,521

Poverty rate6.4%

Unemployment rate4.1%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWalnut Creek, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	70,088	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$2,680	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1974	1976	1980
Household income	$130,432	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$85,521	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	6.4%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Walnut Creek, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Walnut Creek, CA

Walnut Creek is located in California.

Rent & Income

In Walnut Creek, the typical monthly rent is $2,680 and the typical household income is $130,432. Rent here is higher than in both California and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 6.4%, which is lower than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 35.6% of households. About 49.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 70.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is lower than California and similar to the national rate.

Walnut Creek, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Walnut Creek, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Walnut Creek, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,680	153 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$130,432	35 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	6.4%	23 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	57 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Walnut Creek, CA

Rent

In rent comparisons, Walnut Creek comes in 153rd out of 180 large places. Across California, rents vary from $1,148 in Porterville, CA to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

Walnut Creek ranks 35th among 180 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Walnut Creek in 23rd place among 180 significant areas. Across California, poverty ranges between 4.1% and 26.5%.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Walnut Creek in 57th place among 180 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.9% in Santa Barbara, CA to 18.2% in Delano, CA.

💰 Rent in Walnut Creek, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,680 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Walnut Creek, CA

Annual Household Income: $130,432

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Walnut Creek, CA

Estimated Rate: 6.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Walnut Creek, CA

In Walnut Creek, CA, households that rent: 11,786 (35.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,786	35.6%
Owner-Occupied	21,286	64.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Walnut Creek, CA

In Walnut Creek, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,787 (49.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,787	49.1%
Other renter households	5,999	50.9%
Total renter households	11,786	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Walnut Creek, CA

Less than High School: 7,747 people (14%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 4,889 people (8.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,696 people (6.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 38,898 people (70.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 55,230

📊 Unemployment Rate in Walnut Creek, CA

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Canton, OH70,105 Eastvale, CA70,179 Tulare, CA69,984 Camarillo, CA70,244 St. Cloud, MN69,926 West Des Moines, IA69,893 North Richland Hills, TX70,338 Redondo Beach, CA69,814 Decatur, IL70,368 Bayonne, NJ70,468

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.