Walnut is a suburban city in the eastern part of Los Angeles County in California. Money's Best Places to Live ranked Walnut #70 in 2009 and #57 in 2011, the highest ranking for a Californian city in both years.The greater Walnut Valley is located between the steep San Jose Hills mountain range to the north, and the gentle Puente Hills to the south. Quality housing consists of master-planned single family homes ranging in size from 1,800 to 11,200 square feet. The city hosts a highly ranked public school system - the Walnut Valley Unified School District, which has been ranked by numerous sources as one of the top public school districts in Southern California as well as Mt. San Antonio College. Walnut is one of the cities with the lowest crime rates in the San Gabriel Valley.The city covers nearly nine square miles and is home to hundreds of businesses. Its 2012 population was estimated at 29,661 by the United States Census Bureau.