Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Walnut
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Walnut
Rent control: Irvinehas no local rent-stabilization ordinance we track, so California's statewide cap (AB 1482) is the main protection. It limits annual increases on most buildings at least 15 years old, with exemptions. Verify a building's status before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How Walnut scores for you
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Walnut is a planned, master-planned village within Irvine, designed as a quiet residential community focused on family living and suburban comfort. The neighborhood emphasizes clean streets, organized development, and a controlled residential atmosphere typical of Irvine's planned communities.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Walnut revolves around car travel. While some errands can be done on foot, a car is essential for most shopping, dining, and services. Within a short walk you'll find about 1 coffee spot, 6 restaurants, 1 grocery store, 1 gym, and 2 parks, though concentrated selection means you'll often drive for choice. Traffic exposure is above average for the region, and public transit is minimal, with no rail stations nearby.
Who it's for
Walnut suits renters prioritizing a quiet, organized residential setting and family-friendly environment over walkability and transit convenience. If you work in Irvine or nearby areas and prefer a car-dependent, stable planned community, this is a fit. Those relying on public transit or seeking urban walkability should look elsewhere.
Environment & livability
Air quality: below the California median for diesel PM exposure.
Air quality here is better than average for the state. Worth noting if you have respiratory sensitivities.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
Tree cover: very limited tree cover, predominantly concrete.
Low canopy areas tend to run hotter and feel more exposed. Research links tree cover to lower ambient temperatures and improved pedestrian comfort.
Walkability: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
Transit: minimal transit access, car strongly recommended.
Very infrequent or no meaningful transit nearby. Car dependency is high in this area.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Who lives in Walnut
Population
30,841
Renters
19%
of households rent
Median age
46
Median income
$134k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Walnut
6 public schools sit inside this area · 6 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Park Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 72% | 67% |
| Collegewood Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 64% | 65% |
| Cyrus J. Morris Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 64% | 68% |
| Leonard G. Westhoff Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 78% | 80% |
| Vejar Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 67% | 67% |
| Suzanne Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 6-8 | 73% | 64% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Walnut
99 Ranch Market · ALDI · Vons
Coffee Tomo · Donut Tree · R&B Tea House · Starbucks
All That Barbeque · All That Shabu · Applebee's · Chick-fil-A
Arroyo Park · College Park · Country Hollow Park · Creekside Park
LA Fitness
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What the census says about Walnut
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Walnut; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 33 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 83%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1981
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 3%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 6%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 91%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 86%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 4 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 11,958
- total housing units
Averaged across 26 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Walnut in the regional index
How Walnut places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where growing up led to higher adult earnings
Ranks #20 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Walnut
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Frequently asked questions
How walkable is Walnut?+
Walnut is walkable for some errands but ranks 208th of 319 comparable areas in the region. You can handle basic tasks on foot, but a car is useful and often necessary for shopping and dining variety.
Do I need a car here?+
Yes. With minimal transit access, no nearby rail stations, and above-average traffic exposure, a car is strongly recommended for daily life in Walnut.
What's the rent like?+
Current residents pay a median of around $2,908 per month, which ranks 174th of 210 areas. This is slightly above the regional average of $2,292, reflecting Walnut's position as a quieter, planned community.
What parks and outdoor space are available?+
Within a short walk, you'll find about 2 parks, including Lemon Creek Bicentennial Park and Suzanne Park. Tree cover is limited at 9.1%, so the streetscape is mostly open, though parks provide green space.
Is Walnut walkable?+
Walnut ranks #267 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Walnut?+
Current residents of Walnut pay a median rent of about $2,987 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher.
How is the air quality in Walnut?+
Walnut has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 41 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Walnut?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Walnut are Walnut, West Hills, Great Park Neighborhoods and Laguna Hills.