There’s nothing higher than exploring a metropolis on foot – visiting retailers, meandering via alleys, and saying good day to neighbors. Strolling lets you decelerate and take within the environment, surroundings, and tradition of wherever you might be. It could additionally present quite a few well being advantages and assist scale back your carbon footprint should you would in any other case drive or taxi.
However what makes a metropolis walkable? Stroll Rating, the authority on walkability, says that inhabitants density, intersection density, block size, and distance to facilities like eating places and grocery shops are an important elements. Stroll Rating takes all of this under consideration to find out a metropolis’s Stroll Rating. In brief, the extra facilities and density an space is, the extra walkable it’s.
On this Redfin article, we’ll discover the ten most walkable cities within the U.S. based on Stroll Rating, diving into their facilities, infrastructure, and market traits. So, whether or not you’re a present resident or are on the lookout for a brand new place to dwell, tie up your laces as we uncover essentially the most walkable cities in america.
Record solely contains cities with a inhabitants of 200,000 or larger.
1. San Francisco, CA
Stroll Rating: 89
Median Sale Value: $1,400,000
Median Lease Value: $2,697
Most Walkable Neighborhoods in San Francisco: Chinatown, Tenderloin, and Polk Gulch
Don’t let the hills idiot you – San Francisco is essentially the most walkable metropolis within the U.S. The historic and compact metropolis is house to dozens of in style parks like Golden Gate Park, a whole bunch of accessible world-class facilities, and a walkable road format. Iconic landmarks just like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf are simply accessible on foot, amongst many others. It doesn’t matter what you’re on the lookout for, you possibly can stroll to it.
It’s additionally handy to hop onto a BART bus or practice for the longer journeys. Stations are in all places all through the Bay Space, serving to get rid of the necessity for a automotive.
San Francisco is dedicated to enhancing its walkability additional. Packages just like the Pedestrian Program purpose to shortly and successfully enhance intersections, add public transportation, renovate giant streets, and enhance faculty security. Pilot applications like Sluggish Streets, Play Streets, and Daylighting (a statewide legislation) are additionally underway.
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2. New York, NY
Stroll Rating: 88
Median Sale Value: $735,000
Median Lease Value: $2,804
Most Walkable Neighborhoods in New York: Bowery, NoLita, and Little Italy
New York Metropolis, the most important metropolis within the nation, is the second-most walkable metropolis within the U.S. Recognized for its iconic landmarks just like the Empire State Constructing, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty, New York Metropolis can also be well-known for its walkability.
Dense neighborhoods with retailers on each nook, in depth public transportation, and 12,000 miles of sidewalks assist make exploring town on foot simpler than ever. Residents take this to coronary heart, too; simply 45% of NYC residents personal a automotive, and even fewer use a automotive to commute.
New York continues to prioritize pedestrian security, decreasing fatalities, and enhancing walkability all through town. Packages reminiscent of Open Streets and Parks With out Borders, together with efforts to increase inexperienced areas just like the Excessive Line and East River Esplanade, are just some methods town is investing in pedestrians.
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3. Boston, MA
Boston is a historic and charming metropolis recognized for its compact format and walkable streets. With facilities on each block and a community of parks and inexperienced areas, pedestrians are prioritized and strolling is inspired. A spotlight is the two.5 mile Freedom Path, which passes by 17 locations important to U.S. historical past. The Boston Frequent is one other well-known landmark simply accessible by foot. In actual fact, a lot of the metropolis’s sights sit on a single square-mile peninsula.
The town’s walkability is multiplied by its sturdy and environment friendly public transportation system. Nicknamed the “T”, Boston’s public transit contains buses, ferries, and greater than 153 subway stations that seamlessly combine into town’s dense and various neighborhoods.
Boston is constantly working to enhance walkability and create extra accessible public areas for everybody. WalkBoston, Go Boston 2030, and the Summer season Road Pilot Program are three initiatives that Boston hopes will make it essentially the most walkable metropolis within the nation.
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4. Chicago, IL
Chicago is the fourth-most walkable metropolis within the nation. Characterised by its iconic gridded streets, stocky skyscrapers, and lakefront parks, strolling is a breeze within the Windy Metropolis. And when it’s too chilly or moist to stroll within the winter, the Pedway offers 5 miles of tunnels and bridges that join downtown.
Like Boston, Chicago’s public transit system (the CTA) is widespread and accessible, selling walkability all through town. It’s simple to take the “L” to Millennium Park, bus to Wrigley Subject, or stroll alongside the Riverwalk and thru the Navy Pier. To not point out hundreds of different sights in America’s third-largest metropolis.
The town is at present engaged on the Chicago Pedestrian Plan, specializing in enhancing sidewalk infrastructure and highway security. It’s additionally collaborating on Elevated Chicago, which is a multi-sector venture geared toward enhancing fairness via strolling, biking, transit, and opening up public areas.
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5. Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. is the fifth-most walkable metropolis within the U.S. Designed over 200 years in the past with pedestrians in thoughts, town is house to an environment friendly metro system (WMATA), a navigable round grid, and huge sidewalks and tree-line avenues all through. The area’s iconic nationwide monuments, museums, and well-maintained public areas additionally contribute to a simple and pleasant strolling expertise.
Due to town’s compact format, it’s simple to stroll to the Nationwide Mall, take the Metro to the Smithsonian, or go on a stroll via Rock Creek Park. Exceptionally dangerous visitors could encourage you to commerce your automotive for footwear, too.
Washington, D.C. is endeavor many giant initiatives geared toward enhancing walkability: MoveDC focuses on enhancing pedestrian and transit infrastructure; the DC Circulator is connecting extra strolling and transit routes; and the Pedestrian Program focuses on making high-traffic corridors safer.
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6. Miami, FL
Ditch your automotive and take a stroll via sunny Miami, the sixth-most walkable metropolis within the U.S. Miami combines bustling metropolis life with the attract of gorgeous oceanscapes, catering to a variety of existence. The town’s walkability is characterised by landmarks just like the Miami Riverwalk Path, the Wynwood Partitions, and The Wharf.
Miami’s distinctive neighborhoods and iconic seashores additionally add to town’s walkability. South Seashore and Surfside Seashore present scenic strolling paths alongside the shoreline, whereas Little Havana and Coconut Grove are vigorous and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with facilities in all places you look. You can too take the Metrorail, Metrobus, or Metromover to loads of spots all through town.
With a rising emphasis on public areas and mixed-use developments, it’s simpler than ever to discover the area’s distinctive landscapes on foot. Miami is engaged on dozens of walkability initiatives, together with Miami 21, Baywalk, and Little Havana Me Importa.
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7. Oakland, CA
Simply throughout the bay from San Francisco, Oakland is the seventh-most walkable metropolis within the nation. The town is thought for its attractive landscapes, giant public areas, and vibrant neighborhoods, with grocery shops, nook retailers, and hip eating places wherever you flip.
Oakland can also be the transportation hub of the Bay Space and affords loads of accessible methods to get round with out a automotive. It’s simple to stroll to a close-by BART or AC Transit station and get the place it’s essential go, whether or not it’s to Berkeley for a day journey or into the center of San Francisco for work.
Oakland is at present embarking on numerous pedestrian-first initiatives. For instance, the 5-Yr Paving Plan renovates high-traffic streets to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and the Lake Merritt Station Space Plan goals to revitalize Lake Merritt with pedestrians as the main target. Price range deficits are posing challenges throughout town, although.
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8. Philadelphia, PA
Well-known for its distinctive delicacies and wealthy historical past, Philadelphia is the eight-most walkable metropolis within the U.S. The town is densely populated and accommodates limitless actions and facilities for pedestrians, like strolling via Rittenhouse Sq., purchasing on the Studying Terminal Market, or consuming at one in every of a whole bunch of native eating places.
Philly’s public transportation is world-class as properly, which solely provides to the area’s walkability.
Moreover, Philadelphia demonstrates its dedication to pedestrians via initiatives and initiatives. The Schuylkill River Path growth, for instance, will lengthen and enhance the long-lasting pedestrian greenway, and The Rail Park venture goals to remodel previous railways into miles of trails. These facets mixed helped make Philly among the best locations to dwell in Pennsylvania.
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9. Seattle, WA
The poster little one of the PNW and one of many rainiest and cloudiest cities within the nation, Seattle is the ninth-most walkable metropolis within the nation. Seattle is chock-full of historical past, hills, and lovely vistas that make dwelling there one in every of a sort.
Seattle has undergone great tech-fueled development prior to now decade, serving to convey density and facilities to the area, which has significantly improved walkability. The walkable and revitalized South Lake Union neighborhood and Elliot Bay waterfront space are simply two examples of town prioritizing pedestrians.
King County Metro and Sound Transit work to cut back the necessity for vehicles, however the system isn’t as sturdy as most different cities on this checklist. Seattle is actively working to enhance walkability all through town, with initiatives just like the Pedestrian Grasp Plan.
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10. Lengthy Seashore, CA
Stroll Rating: 73
Median Sale Value: $855,000
Median Lease Value: $2,150
Most Walkable Neighborhoods in Lengthy Seashore: Downtown, Eastside, and St. Mary
Loosen up and unwind by the ocean in Lengthy Seashore, the tenth-most walkable metropolis within the U.S. A seaside city that pairs limitless city facilities with sunny climate and year-round views, Lengthy Seashore offers industrial allure and an important high quality of life. Ocean Boulevard and Shoreline Village are particularly walkable areas within the metropolis, providing a mixture of leisure, eating, and sights just like the Queen Mary.
Lengthy Seashore additionally advantages from proximity to downtown Los Angeles. Sadly, the area’s public transportation isn’t as developed as many different giant cities, so strolling is much less possible for touring longer distances. Most individuals use vehicles to get round
The town’s dedication to pedestrians and inexperienced areas is clear via applications such because the Mobility Component, Seashore Streets, and Protected Streets LB. Irrespective of the place you might be within the metropolis, it’s a pleasure to look at the sundown over the water.
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The place will we go from right here?
Probably the most walkable cities within the U.S. are San Francisco, New York, and Boston. These cities prioritize accessible public areas, dense and related city planning, and considerable public transportation.
Apparently, some cities experimented with pedestrian-first initiatives in the course of the pandemic, as fewer folks have been on the roads. A few of these initiatives caught round, reminiscent of New York Metropolis’s Open Streets, and plenty of others across the nation. This exhibits that decreasing the variety of vehicles in cities generally is a internet constructive for pedestrians. Fewer vehicles and extra reliance on public transportation can even decrease a metropolis’s carbon footprint, serving to some attain formidable emissions objectives.
Methodology
Knowledge comes from Stroll Rating, a Redfin firm. Stroll Rating charges areas from least to most walkable on a scale from 0-100. To calculate a Stroll Rating for a metropolis, Stroll Rating analyzes and aggregates hundreds of strolling routes to close by facilities, inhabitants density, and metrics reminiscent of block size and intersection density. Factors are awarded based mostly on the gap to facilities in every class.
Stroll Rating and housing market information sourced February 2025. Record solely contains cities with a inhabitants of 200,000 or larger.