Rents are right about where Walnut Creek's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,924 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Walnut Creek usually run 1.3% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in June, about $64 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Walnut Creek is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Walnut Creek changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Walnut Creek rose 11.5% while median household income rose 23.1% ($105,948 to $130,432). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Walnut Creek is 17% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 16 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($130,432) is $3,261 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,247); a 3-bedroom is $4,153.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Walnut Creek, 94598 ($3,266/mo), costs 20% more than the cheapest, 94597 ($2,711/mo).
Concord, 5 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,569/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Walnut Creek. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Walnut Creek, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 70.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Walnut Creek, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Walnut Creek, CA has shifted from $2,468 to $2,924, up 18.5% since 2021. On the earnings side, the typical household in Walnut Creek, CA now reports about $130,432, up from $121,205 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Walnut Creek, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Walnut Creek
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Walnut Creek on your salary?
At $2,924/mo, how Walnut Creek rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Walnut Creek rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Walnut Creek. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Walnut Creek
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Walnut Creek is $2,924/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,343/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,247/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,667/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,153/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($130,432/yr), Walnut Creek ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Walnut Creek?
Is rent going up or down in Walnut Creek?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Walnut Creek?
Has rent outpaced income in Walnut Creek?
Which Walnut Creek neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Walnut Creek rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Walnut Creek?
At $2,924/mo, rent takes ~27% of Walnut Creek's median household income ($130,432/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Walnut Creek.
No discussions yet.