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City · 70,088 residents · Contra Costa County, California

Walnut Creek , California

In Walnut Creek, a typical home is worth $1,057,300 and typical rent is $2,680 a month. Compared with all of Contra Costa County, the typical home value is 22% higher and typical rent is 13% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,057,300

    22% above the county

    44% above California

    • Walnut Creek
    • Contra Costa
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,680a month

    13% above the county

    32% above California

    • Walnut Creek
    • Contra Costa
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $130,432a year

    3% above the county

    32% above California

    • Walnut Creek
    • Contra Costa
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    64%

    4 points below the county

    8 points above California

    • Walnut Creek
    • Contra Costa
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$990,472
1.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,924 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Walnut Creek is in Contra Costa County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Contra Costa County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Walnut Creek apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Contra Costa Centre, the typical home value is $733,300: 31% less than in Walnut Creek ($1,057,300).

  2. The typical home in Walnut Creek is worth $1,057,300, 22% more than in Contra Costa County as a whole ($866,800).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Walnut Creek

What homes there are in Walnut Creek, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Walnut Creek, the apartment is the most common kind of home: 37%, against 17% in Contra Costa County.

Year built

The typical home in Walnut Creek was built in 1974, 4 years before the typical one in Contra Costa County.

There are fewer big homes in Walnut Creek than in Contra Costa County: 45% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 67%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Contra Costa County is high ($1,249,125): at least 46% of owner-occupied homes in Walnut Creek are worth less than $1,000,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,764 a month

Contra Costa County: $3,435 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,366 a month

Contra Costa County: $1,009 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Contra Costa County: 71%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Walnut Creek is $3,764 a month, more than in Contra Costa County ($3,435); without one, $1,366.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Walnut Creek rose 33% since 2015–2019, less than in Contra Costa County (39%).

Much as in Contra Costa County, the typical rent in Walnut Creek rose 28% since 2015–2019.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Walnut Creek: typical income rose 23%, against +33% for home values and +28% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWalnut CreekContra Costa CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.8%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.9%5.4%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.092.782.842.53
Drive alone 50%60%66%69%
Carpool 8%10%10%9%
Public transit 6%5%3%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%3%3%
Work from home 31%21%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Walnut Creek, 3.9% of households live with more than one person per room, against 5.4% in Contra Costa County.

Households in Walnut Creek are smaller: 2.09 people on average; in Contra Costa County, 2.78.

Many people here do not commute at all: 31% work from home; in Contra Costa County, 21%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Walnut Creek?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Walnut Creek, worth $1,057,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 80% of the typical household income in Walnut Creek, which is $130,432 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $373,670 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Contra Costa County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Walnut Creek. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $37,006 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$8,719

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,038,149
Total interest
$1,493,653
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $17,855 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,043 a month

  • Tight

    $3,043 to $3,913 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,913 a month

    Your payment · 80%

Compared with the typical household income in Walnut Creek ($130,432 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$8,719
Principal & interest$7,033
Property tax$608
Home insurance$441
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$638

You need at least $37,006 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County

Walnut Creek is in Contra Costa County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Walnut Creek's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,057,300
Typical monthly rent
$2,680
Typical yearly household income
$130,432
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
0.69%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Contra Costa County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,805
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+31%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Contra Costa County.

Everything about Contra Costa County

Buying

Buying a home in Walnut Creek

A typical home in Walnut Creek is worth $1,057,300: 22% above the county and 44% above California. With the typical household income in Walnut Creek ($130,432 a year), a typical home costs 8.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Walnut Creek 8.1 years
  • Contra Costa 6.8 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Contra Costa County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Contra Costa County rose 71% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Contra Costa County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.0% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +31% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +71% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Walnut Creek next to Contra Costa County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Walnut Creek $1,057,300
  • Contra Costa $866,800
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Walnut Creek $2,680
  • Contra Costa $2,375
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Walnut Creek $130,432
  • Contra Costa $127,229
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Walnut Creek next to Contra Costa County and California
Measure Walnut Creek Contra Costa County California U.S.
Typical home value $1,057,300 $866,800 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,680 $2,375 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $130,432 $127,229 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 64% 68% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $7,283 $7,156 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.69% 0.83% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 56% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Contra Costa County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Walnut Creek

For a typical $1,057,300 home in Walnut Creek, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Walnut Creek's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $8,719a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $37,006
    Cash to close
    $68,725
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $638

  • Conventional, 5% down $8,355a month

    Down payment
    $52,865
    Cash to close
    $84,584
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $502

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,779a month

    Down payment
    $211,460
    Cash to close
    $243,179
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $7,756a month

    Down payment
    $158,595
    Cash to close
    $190,314
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Walnut Creek and for Contra Costa County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Walnut Creek

0.69%of the home’s value each year

$7,283 a year for the typical owner in Walnut Creek.

  • Walnut Creek 0.69%
  • Contra Costa 0.83%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Contra Costa County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Contra Costa County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
7,128
Of those, with NFIP insurance
28%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 28% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Walnut Creek

Typical rent in Walnut Creek is $2,680 a month: 13% above the county. In Walnut Creek, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Contra Costa County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,805 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $53.94 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Contra Costa County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,088 $40.15 $83,520
1 bedroom $2,290 $44.04 $91,600
2 bedrooms $2,805 $53.94 $112,200
3 bedrooms $3,592 $69.08 $143,680
4 bedrooms $4,250 $81.73 $170,000

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Walnut Creek

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Walnut Creek has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,820 in 94595 to $3,630 in 94598.

4 of the 4 are above the fair market rent for Contra Costa County ($2,805).

  • 94595 $2,820$3,610
  • 94596 $3,250$4,160
  • 94597 $3,140$4,020
  • 94598 $3,630$4,650

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Walnut Creek when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Walnut Creek

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Walnut Creek. These are the largest.

  • Tice Oaks 2150 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek 94595 91 low-income homes · 1 bd: 90 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2001 · For older adults (925) 943-1670
  • Coggins Square Apts 1316 Las Juntas Way, Walnut Creek 94597 87 low-income homes · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 31 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2000 · For families (925) 945-6178
  • Casa Montego 1485 Montego, Walnut Creek 94598 80 homes, 79 low-income · For older adults (925) 944-9159
  • Villa Vasconcellos 1515 Geary Rd, Walnut Creek 94597 70 homes, 69 low-income · 1 bd: 69 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2008 · For older adults
  • Riviera Family Apartments 1515 and 1738 Riviera Avenue, Walnut Creek 94596 58 homes, 57 low-income · Studio: 8 · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 7 · 3 bd: 19 · In service since 2018

See all 170 buildings in Contra Costa County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Walnut Creek

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Contra Costa County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Walnut Creek

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Walnut Creek or Contra Costa County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Walnut Creek the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Walnut Creek

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Walnut Creek, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Balance

    2950 Buskirk Ave, Walnut Creek · 2 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, other languages, and Russian.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (800) 777-7526

  • Balance - Concord

    2950 Buskirk Ave, Walnut Creek · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (800) 777-7526

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Oakland, CA

    3801-3805 Broadway, Oakland · 13 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (510) 652-6622

Every agency in Contra Costa County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Walnut Creek

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Walnut Creek

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Contra Costa County is named for Walnut Creek or Contra Costa County.

3 other authorities have an office in Contra Costa County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Contra Costa County

These cities are also in Contra Costa County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Contra Costa County Housing in California
See 16 more cities in Contra Costa County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Walnut Creek, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Contra Costa County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Walnut Creek.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Walnut Creek

Short answers with the numbers for Walnut Creek and all of Contra Costa County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Walnut Creek?

The typical home value in Walnut Creek is $1,057,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Contra Costa County it is $866,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Walnut Creek?

Typical rent in Walnut Creek is $2,680 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Contra Costa County is $2,805.

What is the FHA loan limit in Walnut Creek?

Walnut Creek uses the FHA limit for all of Contra Costa County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Walnut Creek?

The typical homeowner in Walnut Creek pays $7,283 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.69% of the home’s value; in Contra Costa County, the rate is 0.83%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Walnut Creek?

There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Contra Costa County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).