East SGV · Los Angeles County · Verified May 2026
Walnut, California
Top-tier schools · Low-density living · Established community
Walnut is a low-density, owner-occupied suburb in the eastern San Gabriel Valley with one of the strongest school districts in California. Zillow's smoothed Home Value Index reads $1,072,953 (-2.9% YoY); Redfin's monthly closed-sale median is volatile in a market this small, so the home value index is the steadier headline. The Walnut Valley Unified School District — Niche A+, top 5% statewide — is the city's defining asset.
Zillow Home Value Index
$1.07M
-2.9% YoY · the steadier headline figure
Source: Zillow ZHVI
Median Sale Price
$1.16M
March 2026 · volatile in a small market
Source: Redfin
Median $ / Sq Ft
$627
+3.6% YoY
Source: Redfin
Homeownership Rate
83.8%
Among the highest in the SGV
Source: Data USA
School District
Walnut Valley Unified School District
Walnut Valley Unified School District — shared with Diamond Bar — is one of the top districts in California: a Niche A+ grade, #32 statewide, and within the top 5% of California districts. District math proficiency runs about 71% versus a 34% state average; reading about 76% versus 47%. The district is the single biggest reason families pay the Walnut premium.
Walnut High School
Grades 9–12 · Public
A perfect 10/10 GreatSchools rating, ranked among the top 600 public high schools in America by Niche. Walnut High is the flagship and a primary value anchor for the city's homes.
Source: GreatSchools · Niche
Suzanne Middle School
Grades 6–8 · Public
Ranked among the top 170 public middle schools in California by Niche — a strong feeder into Walnut High.
Source: Niche
Walnut Valley Unified — A+ district
Grades K–12 · Public
A Niche A+ district ranked #32 statewide, with proficiency roughly double the California average in both math and reading — consistent excellence across campuses.
Source: Niche · Walnut Valley USD
Who Lives Here
Demographics & community
Population
~27,600
28,430 at 2020 Census · 2024 estimate
Median Household Income
$129,449
2024 · among the highest in the SGV
Homeownership Rate
83.8%
Very high — long-tenure ownership
Median Property Value
$1.01M
2024 estimate
Median Age
46.8
Established multi-generational families
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau · Data USA · Census Reporter
Annie’s Market Read
What the Walnut data doesn’t tell you
Walnut is a schools market, full stop. Walnut Valley Unified — a Niche A+ district in the top 5% of California — is why families compete for homes here, and why an 83.8% homeownership rate keeps inventory genuinely scarce. People buy in Walnut and stay.
Be careful with the price data. Walnut is a small market, and Redfin's monthly closed-sale median swings sharply on a handful of transactions — even Redfin's own snapshots disagree on direction month to month. I read Walnut off the Zillow home value index, down a modest 2.9%, and treat any single-month median as a snapshot, not a trend.
Walnut's character — low density, large lots, hillside neighborhoods, a settled and established community — is stable and unlikely to change. For a family prioritizing top schools and long-term hold value, Walnut is one of the strongest fundamentals in the eastern SGV, and I run the transaction in both English and 中文 for buyers and sellers who prefer it.
— Annie Liu Williams · DRE# 02147335
Lifestyle Anchors
Why people buy in Walnut
Walnut Valley Schools
An A+ district in the top 5% of California — the defining reason families buy and stay in Walnut.
Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. SAC, one of California's largest community colleges, sits in Walnut — a major regional educational institution.
Lemon Creek Park
Home to the restored 1850s William R. Rowland Adobe and a wisteria vine over 175 years old, plus a splash pad.
Parks & Open Space
Snow Creek Park and the adjacent Schabarum Regional Park give the city extensive hiking and equestrian trails.
Low-Density Living
A quiet, low-density suburb of large-lot single-family homes and hillside neighborhoods — heavily owner-occupied.
An Established Community
A settled, low-turnover community with deep cultural infrastructure and top-tier schools — long-tenure ownership keeps it stable.
Market Read · Q2 2026
Where Walnut is going next
Walnut enters mid-2026 as a stable, supply-scarce schools market. The Zillow home value index is down a modest 2.9% — a mild reset from the 2024 peak — against a backdrop of very limited inventory driven by the city's exceptionally high owner-occupancy.
Days on market have stretched in recent snapshots, which simply means the frenzied 2024 pace is gone and pricing discipline matters again. Well-priced Walnut homes still find their buyer; aspirational list prices sit.
My read: Walnut holds firm through 2026, with low-single-digit movement at the value index and the school-district demand staying structural. The risk is concentration — a small market means a handful of listings can swing the monthly median, so Walnut should always be read on a rolling-quarter basis.
Sources & Methodology
Every figure on this page is cited
Market figures were cross-referenced against at least two independent data providers before publication. Page last verified May 2026; market figures refresh quarterly, school ratings annually.
Considering Walnut?
Let’s talk pricing, schools & timing
Annie brings verified market data, attendance-zone maps, an off-market network, and bilingual English / 中文 representation. Every conversation is private and no-pressure.
Vismar Corporation · DRE# 02147335 · English / 中文