What are the schools like in Walnut, IL?

Walnut is served primarily by Bureau Valley CUSD 340. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.5:1.

What is the median household income in Walnut?

The median household income in Walnut, IL is $55,515 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.

What is the weather like in Walnut, IL?

Walnut has an average high temperature of 29.3°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.9 inches.

Walnut, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Walnut, IL affordable or expensive?

Walnut's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Walnut is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $102,000 and the median rent is $625 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Walnut, IL?

Walnut has a violent crime rate of 3.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 502.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Walnut, IL a Good Place to Live?

Walnut is a small town of 1,348 in Illinois, with a median household income of $55,515 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Walnut stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Walnut is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Walnut city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.6

Walnut's overall cost of living index is 89.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Walnut costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Walnut, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$102,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$625	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,515	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Walnut's violent crime rate is 3.1 per 100,000 residents — 99% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

3.1 /100k

Property Crime

502.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Walnut is served primarily by Bureau Valley CUSD 340. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Walnut, IL	National Avg
School District	Bureau Valley CUSD 340	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Walnut sees average highs of 29.3°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 36.8 inches of annual precipitation and 35.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Walnut, IL
Average High — January	29.3°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	36.8"
Annual Snowfall	35.9"

Demographics

Metric	Walnut, IL	National Avg
Population	1,348	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.9%	22.2%
65 and over	20.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Deer Grove, IL 6 mi Ohio, IL 7 mi New Bedford, IL 7 mi Manlius, IL 8 mi Tampico, IL 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Walnut

Walnut, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

61376

Walnut vs Other Cities

Walnut, IL vs Deer Grove, IL Walnut, IL vs Ohio, IL Walnut, IL vs New Bedford, IL Walnut, IL vs Manlius, IL Walnut, IL vs Tampico, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walnut, IL affordable or expensive?

Walnut's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Walnut roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $102,000 and median rent is $625/month.

What is the crime rate in Walnut, IL?

Walnut's violent crime rate is 3.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 502.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Walnut?

Public schools in Walnut are operated by Bureau Valley CUSD 340. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 23.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Walnut, IL a good place to live?

Walnut, IL has a population of 1,348, a median household income of $55,515, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Walnut?

Walnut averages 29.3°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.8 inches with about 35.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Walnut?

Walnut, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61376.

What is the population of Walnut?

The population of Walnut, Illinois is 1,348 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Walnut?

Key numbers for living in Walnut: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $102,000, median household income $55,515, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Walnut side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.