ZIP 94596
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 94596 usually run 1.3% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in August, about $73 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 94596 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in ZIP 94596 changed +6.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 94596 rose 7.4% while median household income rose 24.2% ($109,167 to $135,635). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 94596 is 13.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($135,635) is $3,391 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,350); a 3-bedroom is $4,280.
2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Walnut Creek.
ZIP 94520, 7 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,401/mo), about $6,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94596. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 94596 (Walnut Creek, CA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 71.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 94596 in Walnut Creek, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 94596 in Walnut Creek, CA has climbed from $2,494 to $2,933, a 17.6% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $125,731 to $135,635 across the same window, up 7.9% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 23,046 residents to roughly 23,417. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 94596 in Walnut Creek, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 94596
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 94596 covers Walnut Creek, CA. The median rent here is $2,933/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,740/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,350/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($135,635/yr), ZIP 94596 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 94596 compare to other ZIPs in California?
How does ZIP 94596 compare to the rest of Walnut Creek?
At $2,933/mo, rent takes ~26% of ZIP 94596's median household income ($135,635/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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