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Affordable housing income criteria and rent maximums

Income and rent maximums help you see if you are eligible for affordable housing in Walnut Creek. These numbers are updated annually, usually in the Spring.

Walnut Creek area median income levels

Each year, the federal government calculates area median incomes (AMI) based on household size. It’s important to know which AMI range your household falls in.

A household is defined by the number of people who will live in the home. It can be:

  • One person living alone
  • A single family
  • Two or more families living together, or
  • People who live together, related or not-related to each other

Your total household income is the combined income of everyone in the household who is 18 years old or older.

Affordable housing units are typically available for specific AMI levels. For example, a development might have 6 units available for people with 80% AMI and 4 units available for people with 60% AMI.

City of Walnut Creek Affordability Criteria

2026 Maximum incomes

View expanded affordability income criteria.

HouseHold Size

 Extremely Low -  30% AMI Very low - 50% AMI Lower -  60% AMI  Low - 80% AMI Median - 100% AMI Moderate - 120% AMI
1 person  35,650  59,400  71,280  95,050  118,800  142,560
2 people  40,750  67,900  81,480  108,600  135,800  162,960
3 people  45,850  76,400  91,680  122,200  152,800  183,360
4 people   50,900  84,850  101,820  135,750  162,800  195,360
5 people  55,000  91,650  109,980  146,650  183,300  219,960
6 people  59,050  98,450  118,140  157,500  196,900  236,280
7 people  63,150  105,250  126,300  168,350  210,500  252,600
8 people  67,200  112,050  134,460  179,200  224,100  268,920

 

2026 Maximum rent amounts

AMI is also used to determine your maximum monthly rent. If you are in an affordable unit, your monthly rent (including utilities) will not exceed these amounts.  

View expanded affordable monthly rents criteria.

No. of bedrooms Extremely Low - 30% AMI  Very Low - 50% AMI  Lower - 60% AMI  Low - 80% AMI  Median - 100% AMI  Moderate - 120% AMI 
Studio $891 $1,485 $1,782 $2,376 $2,970 $3,564
1 Bdrm $1,019 $1,698 $2,037 $2,715

$3,395

 $4,074
2 Bdrm $1,146 $1,910 $2,292 $3,055 $3,820 $4,584
3 Bdrm $1,273 $2,121 $2,546 $3,394 $4,070 $4,884
4 Bdrm $1,375 $2,291 $2,750 $3,666 $4,583 $5,499
5 Bdrm $1,476 $2,461 $2,954 $3,938 $4,923 $5,907
6 Bdrm+ $1,579 $2,631 $3,158 $4,209 $5,263 $6,315