Walnut Creek, California Income Statistics
Walnut Creek Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
Walnut Creek Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Walnut Creek | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $132,510 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $113,617 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 33.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 32.4% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Walnut Creek is about 34% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in Walnut Creek (5.8%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 34% of adults in Walnut Creek earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Walnut Creek, California grew by 63.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $132,510 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Walnut Creek has been far above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2016, its income was 53% higher. The gap has widened from 59% in 2009 to 65% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Walnut Creek
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 19,212 households (62.3% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 11.3% of households in Walnut Creek had an income under $35,000 and 45.2% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Walnut Creek has a larger share of households earning $200,000 or more (32.4% vs 13.2%) and a smaller share earning $50,000 to $74,999 (9.6% vs 15.5%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 940 | 3.0% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 489 | 1.6% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 932 | 3.0% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,121 | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,070 | 6.7% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,958 | 9.6% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 3,135 | 10.2% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 5,272 | 17.1% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 3,927 | 12.7% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 10,013 | 32.4% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 30,856 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 19,457 residents (33.9% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 37.2% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 8.9% of Walnut Creek residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 19.3% had some income but less than $25,000, and 44.4% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Walnut Creek has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (33.9% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (8.2% vs 12.6%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 5,114 | 8.9% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 4,715 | 8.2% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2,096 | 3.7% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4,274 | 7.4% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 3,476 | 6.1% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 4,713 | 8.2% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 7,542 | 13.1% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 6,029 | 10.5% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 19,457 | 33.9% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 57,416 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 8.9% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Walnut Creek
| Metric | Walnut Creek | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.482 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $121,602 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $104,816 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.8% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Walnut Creek, it is 0.482, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 16% more than women's income in Walnut Creek, California. Over a 35-year career, a 16% wage gap accumulates to roughly $587,510 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Walnut Creek, California has narrowed from about 30% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2017, and was narrowest at 12% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $9,694 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Walnut Creek | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 30.4% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 2,027 people are unemployed in Walnut Creek, California.
The average commute time in Walnut Creek is 25 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Walnut Creek, California has fallen from 6.2% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2019.
Walnut Creek stayed below the U.S. unemployment rate from 2011 to 2023, starting 2.5 points lower, and rose above it in the latest figures (2024), at 0.7 points higher.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Walnut Creek, California has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it far better than California, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Walnut Creek, California.
How Rich Is Walnut Creek, California?
Walnut Creek has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $132,510, about 34% higher than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in Walnut Creek, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Walnut Creek, California rose 63%, from $81,193 to $132,510. Over the same years, income here kept pace with California as a whole: +63% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Walnut Creek in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Walnut Creek, California was $134,160, up 4% from $128,986 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Walnut Creek in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Walnut Creek, California was $111,500. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $132,510.
Is Walnut Creek, California a high-income area?
Yes. 34% of adults in Walnut Creek, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 32% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
What is the Gini coefficient in Walnut Creek, California?
The Gini coefficient in Walnut Creek is 0.482. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Walnut Creek, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Walnut Creek, California has narrowed from about 30% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2017, and was narrowest at 12% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $9,694 since 2009.
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