City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Walnut, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Walnut - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

27,857
Residents
$133,762
Median income
$972,500
Median home
$3,236
Median rent (state)

Walnut - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Walnut places in the 91st percentile for household income and the 31st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

91st
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
31st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Walnut, CA

27,857 people live in Walnut, California - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Walnut brings in $133,762 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 7.1%. Home values in Walnut run a median of $972,500, and the median resident age is 46.4 years. About 55.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 181 residential building permits were authorized in Walnut (Building Boom), up 1193% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2018.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,236 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Workers in Walnut report an average commute of 28.1 minutes, with 68.0% driving alone and 18.5% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

27,857 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$133,762 /yr

Poverty 7.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Walnut compare to other US cities?

Here's how Walnut stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 91% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities
Safety 31% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Walnut ranks #242 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Walnut's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

91stIncome percentile
31stSafety percentile

91st percentile nationally for median household income · 31st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Walnut's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Walnut's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 42 Avg. percentile National median
Walnut's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Walnut's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$972,500 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Walnut $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Walnut, CA Walnut, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Walnut, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Walnut, CA median $133,762/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Walnut, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Walnut, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 55.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
27,857
Median Income
$133,762
Median Home Value
$972,500
Median Age
46.4
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Labor force participation
55.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
55.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2018.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
127.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1891.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
27,000 residents27,500 residents28,000 residents28,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 28,347 residents 27,316 residents ▼ -3.6%
Walnut's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
181
housing units authorized
Single-Family
125
detached homes
Multifamily
56
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 14
2020 8
2021 27
2022 94
2023 45
2024 181

Permit volume increased 1193% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
28.1 minutes
Drive Alone
68.0%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
18.5%
Other
1.6%

Based on 12,433 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Walnut sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,236/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Ridgecrest
28,138 people
Belmont
27,505 people
Lemon Grove
27,489 people
Temescal Valley
28,560 people
East Niles
28,586 people
Lemoore
27,023 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Walnut's 27,857 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Huntley, IL
27,859 people
Prior Lake, MN
27,832 people
Hamtramck, MI
27,830 people
Lake Jackson, TX
27,902 people
Shirley, NY
27,807 people
Milford, MA
27,919 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Walnut's $133,762 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tyrone, GA
$133,773 median income
Van Meter, IA
$133,750 median income
Mullica Hill, NJ
$133,750 median income
Nevada, TX
$133,750 median income
Fredericktown, PA
$133,782 median income
Woodlake, VA
$133,782 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Walnut, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Walnut, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 12.7% 67.7% 8.6% 7.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.3% White 12.7% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 67.7% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.6% Some other race 8.6% Two or more races 7.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Walnut compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Walnut (this city) 27,857 $133,762
Ridgecrest 28,138 $88,107
Belmont 27,505 $207,609
Lemon Grove 27,489 $79,278
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Walnut, CA?

What is the population of Walnut, CA? +

Walnut, CA has a population of 27,857 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Walnut, CA? +

In Walnut, the typical household earns $133,762 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Walnut? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Walnut; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Walnut, CA safe? +

Walnut has a total crime rate of 2018.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Walnut, CA? +

Walnut's median home value sits at $972,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.