The standard new automobile in the present day prices virtually $49,000 – close to a file excessive. Used automobiles are additionally flirting with all-time highs. That’s as a result of automobile costs skyrocketed throughout the pandemic and have hardly fallen since, making automobile possession one of many largest monetary burdens Individuals face.
A current survey discovered that almost half of Individuals say automobile prices are standing in the best way of monetary stability. However in most U.S. cities, proudly owning a automobile is virtually a requirement. This creates a divide between those that personal a automobile and those that don’t (usually a racial one), impacting socioeconomic alternative, well being outcomes, and extra.
That’s why it issues to have the ability to get round and not using a automobile – and in some cities, it’s attainable. On this article, Redfin actual property highlights the highest 10 U.S. cities the place you don’t want a automobile, ranked by their “Car-Free Score.”
These cities provide sturdy public transportation, walkable neighborhood cores, and stable bike infrastructure. Study extra about how scores had been calculated within the methodology.
>> Study extra about probably the most walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly cities
1. Cambridge, MA
Automobile-Free Rating: 84.6 | Stroll Rating: 90 | Bike Rating: 96 | Transit Rating: 70
Dwelling to Harvard College, MIT, and a dense mixture of historic neighborhoods, Cambridge is the most effective metropolis within the U.S. for car-free residing. It excels in all three classes: Walkability, bikeability, and transit-friendliness.
Strolling: Most of Cambridge is constructed on a human scale. Neighborhoods like Harvard Sq. and Central Sq. pack groceries, cafes, parks, and pharmacies inside a couple of blocks – good for each day errands on foot.
Biking: Cambridge is a nationwide chief in bike infrastructure. The town has protected lanes on main corridors like Massachusetts Ave and Broadway, dozens of Bluebikes stations, and seamless hyperlinks to regional trails just like the Minuteman Bikeway and the Charles River path.
Public transportation: Because it’s simply throughout the Charles River from Downtown Boston, Cambridge is deeply linked to Better Boston by the MBTA. The Pink Line subway anchors the transit community, with stops in Harvard, Porter, Central, and Kendall. Bus routes fill within the gaps.
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2. New York, NY
Automobile-Free Rating: 81.5 | Stroll Rating: 88 | Bike Rating: 69 | Transit Rating: 89
New York Metropolis is likely one of the best locations within the U.S. to dwell and not using a automobile. In actual fact, lower than half of residents even personal one, because of dense neighborhoods, dependable transit, and a road community constructed for strolling.
Strolling: NYC is likely one of the most walkable cities on this planet. Manhattan neighborhoods just like the West Village, SoHo, and the Higher West Facet are full of outlets, companies, and parks inside a 5-10 minute stroll. The outer parts of town are a bit more durable to navigate on foot.
Biking: Biking has surged in recognition because of Citi Bike, protected bike lanes, and greenways just like the Hudson River Greenway and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. The town is quickly increasing its bike community with a give attention to security and connectivity.
Public transportation: New York is America’s chief in public transportation. The subway community alone has 672 stations – almost as many because the mixed whole of all different subway techniques within the nation. Buses, ferries, and trains fill within the gaps.
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3. San Francisco, CA
Automobile-Free Rating: 79.1 | Stroll Rating: 89 | Bike Rating: 72 | Transit Rating: 77
San Francisco isn’t nearly tech corporations and bay views – it’s additionally probably the greatest cities within the nation to dwell and not using a automobile. Its small structure, sturdy public transit system, and rising community of motorbike lanes make it easy to go vehicle-free.
Strolling: Regardless of its famously steep streets, San Francisco is amazingly walkable. Neighborhoods like North Seashore, the Mission, and Hayes Valley are particularly pedestrian-friendly, with outlets, eating places, homes, and transit stops in accessible clusters.
Biking: San Francisco’s bike community has grown quickly in recent times. Protected lanes on corridors like Valencia Road and JFK Promenade, together with the flat “Wiggle” route, make biking an more and more viable choice. Bay Wheels bike-share provides comfort for fast journeys.
Public transportation: An intensive mixture of Muni buses, streetcars, and light-weight rail serve 158 million journeys yearly, whereas BART connects San Francisco to the broader Bay Space.
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4. Berkeley, CA
Automobile-Free Rating: 75.1 | Stroll Rating: 85 | Bike Rating: 83 | Transit Rating: 60
Berkeley is a frontrunner in pedestrian-first city planning. Pair that with a small footprint, gentle climate, and facilities like UC Berkeley, and Berkeley turns into probably the greatest cities for car-free residing.
Strolling: Downtown Berkeley, Elmwood, and North Berkeley are designed round pedestrians. Eating places, markets, bookshops, and pharmacies are normally just some blocks from properties and employment. Elsewhere, flat terrain and traffic-calmed streets make strolling typically protected and nice.
Biking: Berkeley pioneered bike boulevards – low-traffic streets prioritized for cyclists – and continues to develop its protected bike lanes alongside key corridors like Bancroft Method and Milvia Road. The Ohlone Greenway and Bay Path join Berkeley to neighboring cities for longer commutes.
Public transportation: Three BART stations (Downtown, North Berkeley, and Ashby) present quick, frequent entry to Oakland, San Francisco, and the remainder of the Bay Space. AC Transit buses fill in native routes, together with direct strains to Emeryville, Richmond, and UC Berkeley’s campus.
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5. Boston, MA
Automobile-Free Rating: 74.7 | Stroll Rating: 83 | Bike Rating: 69 | Transit Rating: 72
Boston’s dense neighborhoods, cobblestone streets, and legacy infrastructure make it superb for getting round sans-vehicles. As one of the crucial compact main cities within the U.S., many Boston residents can dwell their complete lives with out ever needing a automobile. The bigger metropolitan space is way extra car-dependent, although.
Strolling: Neighborhoods just like the North Finish, Again Bay, and South Finish are stuffed with facilities stitched collectively by a tightly packed road grid. Most locals can full each day errands completely on foot – in truth, each resident lives inside a ten minute stroll from a park.
Biking: Boston’s bike community is booming, with protected lanes on routes like Massachusetts Ave and Washington Road. The town’s Bluebikes bike-share program has over 4,000 bikes throughout a whole bunch of stations.
Public transportation: The MBTA (the “T”) serves the complete area with 4 rail strains and a strong community of buses and commuter trains. The T is the fourth-most in style subway system within the nation.
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6. Jersey Metropolis, NJ
Automobile-Free Rating: 73.1 | Stroll Rating: 87 | Bike Rating: 64 | Transit Rating: 71
Jersey Metropolis affords comfort with out Manhattan crowds. It’s walkable, dense, and extremely well-connected by rail, ferry, and bus.
Strolling: Downtown, the Waterfront, and Journal Sq. are probably the most walkable neighborhoods within the metropolis. Nevertheless, most areas are filled with eating places, pharmacies, and grocery shops inside strolling distance of housing and transit.
Biking: Jersey Metropolis’s Bike infrastructure continues to develop, with in style routes alongside Grand Road and Montgomery Road. The Citi Bike program, shared with NYC, makes it straightforward to experience between Jersey Metropolis and Hoboken.
Public transportation: PATH trains are the go-to choice for commuters, with service to Manhattan and Newark 24 hours a day. NJ Transit serves the remainder of town and state, boasting the longest commuter rail community within the nation.
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7. Washington, D.C.
Automobile-Free Rating: 71.5 | Stroll Rating: 77 | Bike Rating: 70 | Transit Rating: 69
The nation’s capital can be among the many most people-friendly cities within the nation. Together with top-tier landmarks and loads of transit, Washington, D.C. demonstrates a dedication to enhance by means of public enter and motion.
Strolling: With dense neighborhoods, quick blocks, and a mixture of housing and retail, D.C. makes it straightforward to get round on foot. One report acknowledged it as probably the most walkable metropolis within the nation. Areas like Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill are the most effective for pedestrians.
Biking: D.C. continues to construct out its protected bike lanes, connecting extra neighborhoods annually. The town is at present working to create a long-term infrastructure plan. framework. There are additionally hundreds of Capital Bikeshare bikes obtainable throughout the larger DMV.
Public transportation: D.C.’s Metro system connects most main neighborhoods and extends into Maryland and Virginia. Frequent trains and a dense bus community make it straightforward to get round with out counting on a automobile.
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8. Chicago, IL
Automobile-Free Rating: 71.3 | Stroll Rating: 77 | Bike Rating: 72 | Transit Rating: 65
Chicago blends a grid-based structure with sturdy transit and bike infrastructure, making it one of the crucial pedestrian-friendly cities within the nation.
Strolling: Chicago’s downtown core is probably the most walkable by far, in neighborhoods just like the Loop, Logan Sq., and Hyde Park. Within the often-cold winter, the underground and aboveground Pedway is one of the best ways to get round downtown. Summertime brings common road festivals that encourage strolling.
Biking: Biking is a serious a part of metropolis life in Chicago. The town has over 300 miles of motorbike lanes – many protected – together with high-traffic commuter routes like Milwaukee Avenue and the 18-mile Lakefront Path.
Public transportation: The CTA’s “L” system reaches almost each neighborhood on the town, with 24-hour practice service on choose strains and an intensive internet of buses and commuter trains that attain suburbs like Naperville and Wheaton.
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9. Philadelphia, PA
Automobile-Free Rating: 69.4 | Stroll Rating: 75 | Bike Rating: 67 | Transit Rating: 67
Philadelphia is turning into more and more identified for its top-tier walkability. Strolling from the Schuylkill River to Penn’s touchdown is an pleasurable breeze that brings you thru among the area’s most well-known landmarks. The town isn’t accomplished stretching its car-free legs but, both, with a long time of enhancements lined up.
Strolling: Heart Metropolis is Philly’s bread and butter, the place you’ll discover most necessities inside a brief stroll. Slender streets, quick blocks, and quick access to transit and bike lanes make strolling a seamless a part of each day life. Queen Village and Fishtown are different high spots.
Biking: Philadelphia has plans to create a Excessive-High quality Bike Community by 2040, and at present creates miles of recent paths yearly. For individuals who don’t personal a bicycle, Indego affords bike-sharing.
Public transportation: SEPTA’s mixture of subways, trolleys, buses, and commuter rail provides residents entry to virtually each nook of town. The Broad Road and Market-Frankford strains run incessantly and type the spine of Philly’s transit community.
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10. Minneapolis, MN
Automobile-Free Rating: 69.0 | Stroll Rating: 71.4 | Bike Rating: 84 | Transit Rating: 55
Thanks partially to Transfer Minneapolis, Minneapolis has grow to be a frontrunner in lively transportation. It has the very best Bike Rating of any main U.S. metropolis and is dedicated to walkability and climate-friendly infrastructure.
Strolling: The crown jewel of Minneapolis’ walkability is its skyway system. These climate-controlled, interconnected walkways give pedestrians entry to 80+ blocks of car-free indoor walkways – good for chilly winters.
Biking: Minneapolis is probably the most bikeable main metropolis within the U.S., because of its flat terrain and distinctive path community. The Midtown Greenway and Cedar Lake Path type a biking spine by means of town, supported by a robust native bike tradition and statewide help. The Good Journey app offers ridesharing.
Public transportation: Whereas a smaller transit system, the METRO mild rail strains hyperlink downtown to the airport and suburbs. Bus routes just like the A and D strains present sooner service on key corridors and out to the Twin Metropolis’s suburbs.
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The advantages of going car-free
Ditching the automobile can present quite a few advantages to your self and your neighborhood. Listed below are a couple of highlights.
Monetary financial savings and financial progress: Eliminating automobile possession can save the common American over $15,000 yearly on gasoline, insurance coverage, parking, and taxes. Strolling, biking, or taking transit additionally encourages spending and boosts economies.
Improved well being and happiness: Common motion from strolling or biking improves bodily health, reduces stress, and may result in an extended life. Cities that put money into pedestrian infrastructure and public transportation report more healthy and happier residents, fewer visitors fatalities, and higher air high quality.
Environmental advantages and comfort: Private transportation is the biggest supply of greenhouse gases within the U.S., so lowering dependence on it may possibly considerably cut back carbon emissions. Public transit, particularly, can cut back your carbon footprint by two-thirds per kilometer – all whereas saving time throughout peak durations.
The place can we go from right here?
Cities have traditionally grown round individuals. That’s why pre-industrial cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia include dozens of bite-sized metropolis facilities, usually with a grocery retailer and different facilities simply accessible on foot.
At the moment, following a century of car-centric city planning, this concept is resurfacing because the “15-minute city.” The time period was popularized in Paris as a mannequin for constructing neighborhoods the place every thing you want is only a 15-minute stroll, bike, or transit experience away. Consultants consider this technique advantages everybody in the long run and can assist cut back humanity’s carbon footprint. Cities from Portland, OR, to Cedar Rapids, IA have plans to implement this idea.
The overwhelming majority of Individuals have by no means skilled this way of life. In Atlanta, for instance, simply 10% of journeys happen in a 15-minute radius. However when introduced the choice, individuals naturally gravitate towards handy, car-free journeys.
There’ll all the time be conditions the place driving is less complicated or sooner, and in most U.S. cities, automobile possession is critical. However as extra cities prioritize human-sized design, these tradeoffs may finally fade.
Methodology
We ranked the cities the place persons are least more likely to want a automobile by calculating a “Car-Free Score” for all U.S. cities with a inhabitants of 100,000 or larger. We calculated this rating by taking the geometric imply of every metropolis’s Stroll Rating, Bike Rating, and Transit Rating by way of Walkscore.com, a Redfin firm. Every rating is on a scale from 0-100. We opted for the geometric imply with the intention to higher account for outliers within the knowledge.
