Welcome to Walnut Creek
A trendy, urban community at the heart of San Francisco's East Bay
A major stop on the Southern Pacific and Sacramento Northern Railroads at the turn of the 19th century, Walnut Creek continues its role as a central hub to the connecting spokes of the East Bay.
A now bustling urban-suburban hybrid of 70,000 people, Walnut Creek is home to thriving business, arts, and educational communities. The city's vibrant downtown commercial district helps flavor much of Walnut Creek's personality, but the diverse neighborhoods—some old, some new—add plenty of character.
New construction is common in outlying areas, where developing communities draw a large contingent of families. Other subdivisions harken back to the 1940s and 1950s or provide an amenity-rich experience such as being equestrian-friendly. In other words, depending on where you want to live—closer to nature and its open spaces or in town where there's constant action, there are a lot of choices for residents.
What to Love
- Urban lifestyle close to the best of outdoor East Bay
- Vibrant downtown area with upscale shopping
- Outstanding neighborhoods with a variety of housing options and locations
- Easy access to San Francisco and much of the East Bay
People & Lifestyle
Walnut Creek is an ideal landing spot for those who love a lively urban lifestyle but want rural outdoor experiences nearby. The town trends slightly older than surrounding areas, but still draws a considerable mix of younger professionals and families.
Residents are also affluent and highly educated, and those with children seek out the top educational opportunities. Served by five school districts, movement within Walnut Creek is dictated by the presiding district. Fortunately, three of the five are some of the highest-rated in the state, with the other two not far behind.
Dining, Shopping & Entertainment
Anchoring Walnut Creek's vibrant downtown is the Broadway Plaza Shopping Center. The retail, dining, and entertainment district offers incredible variety with a walkable outdoor mall featuring over 80 major retailers, niche boutiques, and dining options.
Dining highlights include the Va de Vi Bistro and Wine Bar, which has a great patio and sidewalk seating. Down the street in Olympia Place is steakhouse favorite Fleming's Prime. A few blocks north is the fantastic Havana Restaurant, serving up Californian-Cuban fare and mojitos.
Things to Do
Walnut Creek contains more open space per capita than any other area in California thanks to the Diablo Foothills and the 20,000-acre Mt. Diablo State Park. Closer to town is the three-acre Ruth Bancroft Garden, a world-renowned educational center that celebrates the art of conservation gardening.
An abundance of civic pride is on display at the Lesher Regional Center for the Arts and its subsequent public art program, the latter of which features throughout the city.
Touted as Walnut Creek's top community event, the city hosts the Art & Wine Festival, a two-day celebration of both pursuits at Heather Farm Park. Each holiday season from early November to late January, the community is invited to lace up their skates at Walnut Creek on Ice in Civic Park.
Schools
Walnut Creek is served by five different schools, all of which feature excellent academic institutions. Some of the top schools located within Walnut Creek include:
- Buena Vista Elementary School, Walnut Creek School District, Grades K-5
- Foothill Middle School, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Grades 6-8
- Las Lomas High School, Acalanes Union High School District, Grades 9-12