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Top 50 rank: 49
Population: 29,464
A diverse and affluent suburb 25 miles from L.A., Walnut combines the charms of rural living -- from the fall Walnut Family Festival to summer concerts -- with the benefits of a big city.
With a median price tag well over $500,000, homes are costly, but the median family income tops $100,000 and the schools are highly rated. Another highlight: Thirty miles of equestrian and hiking trails weave through the town's rolling hills. --H.L.
| Median family income (per year) | $103,053 |
| Job growth % (2010-2012) | 4.04% |
| Median home price (2012) | $562,500 |
| Reading test scores (% above/below average) | 44.0% |
| Math test scores (% above/below average) | 48.3% |
| Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) | 1 |
| Property crime incidents (per 1,000) | 12 |
Financials | |
| Median family income (per year) | $103,053 |
| Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) | $84,692 |
| Sales tax (county) | 9.00%II |
| State income tax rate (highest bracket) | 12.30%I |
| State income tax rate (lowest bracket) | 1.00%I |
| Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) | $1,478 |
| Job growth % (2010-2012) | 4.04% |
Housing |
| Median home price (2012) | $562,500 |
| Average property taxes(2011) | $5,252 |
Education |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles) | 89 |
| Reading test scores (% above/below state average) | 44.0% |
| Test scores math (% above/below average) | 48.3% |
| % students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) | 97.6/2.4 |
Quality of life |
| Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) | 35.5% |
| Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) | 1 |
| Property crime incidents (per 1,000) | 12 |
| Median commute time (in minutes) | 32.3 |
| % population with commute 45 mins. or longer | 37.5% |
| % population walk or bike to work | 1.5% |
Leisure and culture |
| Movie theaters (within 15 miles) | 40 |
| Restaurants (within 15 miles) | 5,777 |
| Bars (within 15 miles) | 277 |
| Public golf courses (within 30 miles) | 219 |
| Libraries (within 15 miles) | 77 |
| Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) | 18 |
| Ski resorts (within 100 miles) | N.A. |
| Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) | 0.1 |
Weather |
| Annual rainfall (inches) | 12.94 |
| % clear days in the area | 76% |
| High temp in July ° F | 88.7° |
| Low temp in Jan ° F | 41.5° |
Meet the neighbors |
| Median age | 42.5 |
| Completed at least some college (% of residents) | 72.0% |
| Married % | 51.5% |
| Divorced % | 3.3% |
| Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) | 925.4 |
