Section Image

About Walnut, CA

About Walnut, CA

Upscale suburban city 26 miles from downtown LA

The city of Walnut spreads across the shaded hills of eastern Los Angeles county. It is known for its relaxed atmosphere and for being within driving distance of Los Angeles. “The City of Walnut prides itself on our small-town values that are respected and blended with contemporary ideals,” says Melanie Tep Maio, Public Information Officer for the City of Walnut. “Walnut really is an ideal place to settle down, with pristine parks, one of the top-ranked school systems in California and one of the lowest crime rates in the region.”

Hilltop suburbs in Walnut

“Walnut has that small-town feel, away from the hustle and bustle,” says Mike Chou, Realtor and Managing Partner at The Chou Team. “There are a lot of first-time or second-time buyers that are trading upwards from condos/townhomes.” Single-family homes sell for a median of $1.3 million, which is significantly more expensive than the median price of neighboring cities. Midcentury modern homes are common, but there are some custom new builds. Housing is competitive, as few homes are on the market at any time.

A-plus rated Walnut Valley Unified School District

Kids attend schools through the Walnut Valley Unified School District. Niche awards the district with an overall grade of A-plus and ranks it as the 31st-best school district in California out of nearly 1000 districts. The city is also home to Mt. San Antonio College, a community college with 22,000 students that is also a major employer within the city.

Parks, trailheads and nearby golf course

The city maintains over 90 acres of green space spread across 11 parks. According to the Trust for Public Land, 77% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Walnut enjoys a typical SoCal climate of balmy weather and hot summers, which can make the area prone to drought. Hikers can access trailheads leading through the San Jose Hills from the northern suburbs. Golfers can schedule tee times at Industry Hills Golf Club, located 5 miles west in the city of Industry, the closest public golf course.

Shopping and dining in Walnut

Most shopping and dining are concentrated around La Puente Road. Lemon Creek Village is a shopping plaza home to a Vons, Chase Bank and a handful of restaurants. The Village strip mall is a collection of grocery and department stores, as well as a few casual eateries. For a wider range of retail, residents can head into surrounding communities like the City of Industry and West Covina.

Community events at community parks

The city of 28,000 hosts a handful of events. The Walnut Winter Wonderland is a community party with live entertainment, vendors and a visit from Santa. The Taste of Walnut Festival is held each spring in Suzanne Park, which is one of the most popular community events. "Taste of Walnut is a perfect place for residents to sample local bites and for small businesses to showcase their menus," says Tep Maio. "This will only be our second year hosting the festival, but we see it being a staple event." On select summer afternoons, neighbors join each other for concerts and movie nights at Creekside Park. The Farmers Market at Mt. SAC, held on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College, welcomes craft and food vendors, along with plenty of fresh produce, every Saturday.

Commuting to downtown LA and other nearby cities

Many residents work outside Walnut or travel to nearby communities for shopping and entertainment. The nearest hospital is 8 miles northwest in West Covina. “It's close to the 60 freeway and 10 freeway but far enough you don't hear the freeway,” says Chou. Los Angeles is a little over 25 miles west, and Irvine is 30 miles south. Anaheim, a major entertainment hub, is a little closer, at 17 miles south. Many residents drive, but the neighboring City of Industry is home to a Metrolink station.

Rates of Crime in Walnut

Walnut Police Department reported a decrease in violent crimes between 2023 and 2024 but an increase in property crimes. Notably, there were no reported instances of homicide in 2023 or 2024.

Josie Keeley
Written By
Josie Keeley
Tyler O'Neil
Photography Contributed By
Tyler O'Neil
Melinda Anselmo
Video By
Melinda Anselmo

Neighborhood Map

Walnut by the Numbers

$1.36M
Average Housing Value
33
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Walnut, CA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Cyrus J. Morris Elementary School
#1 Cyrus J. Morris Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Leonard G. Westhoff Elementary School
#2 Leonard G. Westhoff Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Vejar Elementary School
#3 Vejar Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Walnut Elementary School
#4 Walnut Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Mesa Elementary School
#5 Mesa Elementary School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Stanley G. Oswalt Academy
#6 Stanley G. Oswalt Academy
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Collegewood Elementary School
#7 Collegewood Elementary School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Ybarra Academy For The Arts And Technology
#8 Ybarra Academy For The Arts And Technology
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Vine Elementary School
#9 Vine Elementary School
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

South Pointe Middle School
#1 South Pointe Middle School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Suzanne Middle School
#2 Suzanne Middle School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Stanley G. Oswalt Academy
#3 Stanley G. Oswalt Academy
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Ybarra Academy For The Arts And Technology
#4 Ybarra Academy For The Arts And Technology
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Hollencrest Middle School
#5 Hollencrest Middle School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Marshall Middle School
#6 Marshall Middle School
C
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Giano Intermediate School
#7 Giano Intermediate School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Walnut High School
#1 Walnut High School
A+
Niche
10
GreatSchools
South Hills High School
#2 South Hills High School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
West Covina High School
#3 West Covina High School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Edgewood High School
#4 Edgewood High School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Nogales High School
#5 Nogales High School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Ganesha High School
#6 Ganesha High School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Tina Chien
(626) 602-7521
35 years of real estate experience,specializing homes and muti family sales in San Gabrie area including: Arcadia, Alhambra, Pasadena,San Gabriel, San Marino homes Temple City and other areas.
See Full Agent Profile
See All Agents
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.