ZIP 94597
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 94597 usually run 1.3% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in August, about $60 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 94597 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in ZIP 94597 changed +3.9% 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 94597 rose 15.5% while median household income rose 18.2% ($111,750 to $132,063). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 94597 is 22.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($132,063) is $3,302 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,250); a 3-bedroom is $4,160.
1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Walnut Creek.
ZIP 94520, 6 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,401/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94597. 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 94597 (Walnut Creek, CA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 65.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 94597 in Walnut Creek, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in ZIP 94597 in Walnut Creek, CA has increased 20.4% since 2021, going from about $2,252 per month to roughly $2,711 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $133,930 in 2021 to $132,063 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 21.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 23,725 to 23,129 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. About 53.6% of households rent today, against 51.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 68.4% to 65.1%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 94597 in Walnut Creek, CA market of 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 94597
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 94597 covers Walnut Creek, CA. The median rent here is $2,711/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,660/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,250/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($132,063/yr), ZIP 94597 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 94597 compare to the rest of Walnut Creek?
At $2,711/mo, rent takes ~25% of ZIP 94597's median household income ($132,063/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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