City comparison
Union City, CA is about 20 miles (30 km) from Walnut Creek, CA in a straight line. By road, the drive is roughly 30 miles, or about 26 min behind the wheel at highway speeds.
Driving distance is a rough estimate (great-circle × 1.25); driving time assumes a 60 mph blended average. Real trips run 10–20% longer with stops.
A direct flight from Union City, CA to Walnut Creek, CA takes about 2 min, covering roughly 20 miles in a straight line. Connecting itineraries with a layover typically add 1–3 hours.
Block-to-block estimate at ~500 mph cruise, including taxi, climb, and descent — what an airline would publish, not pure airborne time.
Walnut Creek has a population of 69,809, vs 69,502 in Union City — about the same size. By land area, Walnut Creek covers about 20 sq mi vs 19 sq mi for Union City.
Population from US Census ACS. Land area from the Census Gazetteer (city proper, excluding inland water).
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Union City | Walnut Creek | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,593/mo | $2,503/mo | 3.6% higher in Union City |
| Median home value | $1,006,600 | $972,800 | 3.5% higher in Union City |
| Median household income | $138,013 | $129,971 | 6.2% higher in Union City |
| Groceries index | 108.1 | 108.1 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 168.3 | 168.3 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 106.1 | 106.1 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 106.0 | 106.0 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Union City, you'd need $99,820 in Walnut Creek to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Union City and Walnut Creek have nearly identical overall cost-of-living indices. If you earn $80,000 in Union City, you'd need about $79,856 in Walnut Creek to keep the same standard of living.