Streets Built for People: Benefits of Walkable Cities in 2024
With the growing popularity of walking as a means of transportation, some cities are better suited for walking. Read on to learn which U.S. cities are the most pedestrian-friendly.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jun 13, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jun 13, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our auto insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different auto insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Cities get a walkability score based on how many destinations are within walking distance of various residential addresses
- Some of the best cities for walking are also the biggest, such as New York City, San Francisco, and Boston
- Although a city might have a high level of walkability, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for pedestrians
With rising gas prices and increased awareness of a car’s effect on the environment, more Americans are looking at the walkability of their cities than ever before. While walking is a common way of getting around in Europe, most American cities are designed for driving.
With so many benefits of living in a walkable city, many metropolitan areas are trying to make it easier for residents to skip the car ride. Although there are some disadvantages to living in a city with several walkers — for example, car insurance tends to be higher due to pedestrian injuries — the benefits generally outweigh them.
Read on to learn about the most walkable cities in the U.S., then explore your options for how to buy auto insurance and how to find cheap insurance no matter where you live.
What are the most walkable U.S. cities.?
To determine a city’s walkability, Walk Score looks at thousands of addresses throughout the U.S. and lists how many destinations are within walking distance. Depending on the number of locations within walking distance, Walk Score gives each city a total score:
- 90+. This city is a walker’s paradise, with no need for a car for daily errands.
- 70-89. A city with this score is very walkable, and you can walk for most errands.
- 50-69. These cities are somewhat walkable, with about half of daily errands within walking distance.
- 25-49. This is a car-dependent city where most errands require transportation.
- 0-24. The lowest score a city can receive, which means nearly all errands require a car.
Keeping this in mind, here are the top 20 cities in America for walkability as determined by Walk Score.
City Walkability Score Population
St. Louis, Missouri 65.5 319,000
Santa Ana, California 66.3 324,000
Portland, Oregon 66.6 583,000
Buffalo, New York 67.5 261,000
Los Angeles, California 68.2 3.7 million
Hialeah, Florida 68.7 224,000
Arlington, Virginia 69.2 207,000
Minneapolis, Minnesota 70.5 382,000
Long Beach, California 72.4 462,000
Oakland, California 73.8 390,000
Seattle, Washington 74 608,000
Washington, D.C. 75.9 601,000
Chicago, Illinois 77.4 2.6 million
Miami, Florida 77.6 399,000
Newark, New Jersey 78.8 277,000
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 78.8 1.5 million
Boston, Massachusetts 82 617,000
Jersey City, New Jersey 86.8 247,000
San Francisco, California 87.4 805,000
New York City, New York 88.3 8.1 million
Many cities on this list are actively improving sidewalk safety, increasing driver awareness of pedestrians, and creating more routes for walkers. Though driving is widespread among Americans, walking is becoming more popular.
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What are the least walkable cities in the U.S.?
While some cities are great for walking, others don’t do as well. Aside from being car-dependent, these cities are also dangerous for pedestrians.
City Walkability Score Population
Gilbert, Arizona 28.8 208,000
Greensboro, North Carolina 28.8 269,000
Durham, North Carolina 28.4 228,000
Nashville, Tennessee 27.9 601,000
Jacksonville, Florida 26.3 821,000
Montgomery, Alabama 26.2 205,000
Charlotte, North Carolina 25.5 731,000
Winston, North Carolina 22.3 229,000
Chesapeake, Virginia 21 222,000
Fayetteville, North Carolina 20.4 200,000
There are many reasons a city can be dangerous for pedestrians. Some cities have sidewalks in disrepair, while others have crosswalks that pedestrians can’t safely use.
Safety of Pedestrians by State
When it comes to walkability, there’s a lot more to consider than if errands are within walking distance. To be truly walkable, pedestrians should feel safe on sidewalks and crosswalks.
Look at the graph below to understand how safe your state is for walking.
State Population Pedestrian Deaths Pedestrian Death Rate
Alabama 4.8 million 119 2.44
Alaska 739,000 14 1.89
Arizona 7 million 216 3.08
Arkansas 3 million 42 1.4
California 39.5 million 858 2.17
Colorado 5.6 million 92 1.64
Connecticut 3.5 million 48 1.34
Delaware 961,000 33 3.43
Florida 20.9 million 654 3.12
Georgia 10.4 million 253 2.43
Hawaii 1.4 million 14 0.98
Idaho 1.7 million 16 0.93
Illinois 12.8 million 145 1.13
Indiana 6.6 million 101 1.51
Iowa 3.1 million 23 0.73
Kansas 2.9 million 33 1.13
Kentucky 4.4 million 83 1.86
Louisiana 4.6 million 111 2.37
Maine 1.3 million 20 1.5
Maryland 6 million 114 1.88
Massachusetts 6.8 million 74 1.08
Michigan 9.9 million 156 1.57
Minnesota 5.5 million 38 0.68
Mississippi 2.9 million 71 2.38
Missouri 6.1 million 96 1.57
Montana 1 million 14 1.33
Nebraska 1.9 million 20 1.04
Nevada 2.9 million 91 3.04
New Hampshire 1.3 million 11 0.82
New Jersey 9 million 183 2.03
New Mexico 2 million 74 3.54
New York 19.8 million 242 1.22
North Carolina 10.2 million 198 1.93
North Dakota 755,000 5 0.66
Ohio 11.6 million 142 1.22
Oklahoma 3.9 million 78 1.98
Oregon 4.1 million 69 1.67
Pennsylvania 12.8 million 147 1.15
Rhode Island 1 million 21 1.98
South Carolina 5 million 154 3.07
South Dakota 869,000 10 1.15
Tennessee 6.7 million 124 1.85
Texas 28.3 million 607 2.14
Utah 3.1 million 42 1.35
Vermont 623,000 8 1.28
Virginia 8.4 million 111 1.31
Washington 7.4 million 103 1.31
West Virginia 1.8 million 26 1.43
Wisconsin 5.7 million 56 0.97
Wyoming 579,000 6 1.04
You might notice that some of the safest states don’t have the most walkable cities. For example, North Dakota is the safest state for pedestrians, while New York City is the best city for walking.
How does walkability affect insurance prices?
Several factors affect the price of your car insurance. While one of the most important is where you live, factors also include:
- Age. Young, inexperienced drivers are more likely to cause accidents or engage in reckless behaviors, that’s why the average car insurance rates vary by age.
- Car make and model. Some cars are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. Others cost more to repair, increasing insurance rates.
- Driver history. Your insurance will be much higher if you have speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, DUIs, or other traffic incidents. Some incidents might mean you need high-risk auto insurance.
- Gender. Men are statistically more likely to cause an accident or engage in dangerous behavior than women. While men pay more, the gap closes with age.
- Yearly mileage. The more you drive, the higher your chance of being involved in an incident. If you drive a limited number of miles, you may be eligible for a discount.
Companies use their own formulas to determine insurance rates, and other factors are often involved in the final price.
So, how does walkability affect the price of your insurance? While safe cities for walkers aren’t necessarily going to cause higher insurance prices, cities with more people on the street might.
For example, Miami is one of the best cities for walkers, but other cities in Florida are hazardous for pedestrians. Jacksonville, Daytona, and Tampa are some of the most dangerous in the U.S. for pedestrians due to increased numbers of collisions.
Areas with increased numbers of accidents have higher insurance prices. Companies carefully track accidents to determine rates — ZIP codes with more traffic incidents also pay higher insurance rates.
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Find the Best Car Insurance No Matter Which City You Live In
While walking has several benefits — fresh air, exercise, and a decreased carbon footprint — you’ll eventually need to hop in a car at some point. Whether you rarely drive your car or take it every day to work, the amount you drive will affect how much your insurance costs.
Now that you know the most walkable cities in America according to Walk Score, you can find the best prices on your insurance no matter where you live. Compare as many companies as possible to find the best price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a walkable city?
A walkable city is a community or urban area designed to prioritize and encourage walking as a mode of transportation. It typically features pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as wide sidewalks, crosswalks, well-maintained paths, and amenities within walking distance.
What are the benefits of walkable cities?
Walkable cities offer numerous benefits, including:
- Improved physical health: Walking regularly can contribute to better cardiovascular health, weight management, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
- Environmental sustainability: Promoting walking reduces reliance on cars, leading to lower carbon emissions, improved air quality, and decreased traffic congestion.
- Enhanced quality of life: Walkable cities create vibrant and livable neighborhoods, fostering social interactions, community engagement, and a sense of belonging.
- Economic advantages: Walkable environments attract businesses, increase property values, and boost local economies by encouraging pedestrian traffic and supporting local commerce.
- Reduced transportation costs: With shorter distances between destinations, residents can save money on transportation expenses, including fuel, parking fees, and vehicle maintenance.
How does walkability impact safety?
Walkable cities prioritize pedestrian safety through various measures, such as:
- Clearly marked crosswalks: Designated crosswalks increase visibility and help pedestrians safely navigate intersections.
- Traffic calming measures: Strategies like speed humps, raised crosswalks, and narrower streets reduce vehicle speeds, enhancing pedestrian safety.
- Pedestrian-friendly infrastructure: Wide sidewalks, well-lit paths, and separated bike lanes create a safer environment for pedestrians.
- Reduced conflicts with vehicles: Walkable cities often incorporate features like pedestrian-only zones or shared spaces, minimizing interactions between pedestrians and vehicles.
Are there any drawbacks to walkable cities?
While walkable cities offer numerous benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:
- Limited parking options: Prioritizing pedestrians can lead to reduced parking availability, which can inconvenience car-dependent residents or visitors.
- Higher living costs: Walkable neighborhoods are often in high-demand areas, resulting in higher property prices and living costs.
- Potential noise and congestion: Popular pedestrian areas may experience increased noise levels and congestion, particularly during peak times.
- Accessibility challenges: Some individuals with mobility issues may face difficulties navigating walkable environments, especially if infrastructure lacks appropriate accommodations.
How can communities promote walkability?
Communities can promote walkability by implementing various strategies, including:
- Developing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as wider sidewalks, well-marked crosswalks, and bike lanes.
- Creating mixed-use zoning that combines residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, reducing the need for long-distance travel.
- Enhancing public transportation options and ensuring they integrate well with pedestrian routes.
- Implementing traffic calming measures, such as speed limits, speed bumps, and traffic circles, to improve safety for pedestrians.
- Encouraging community engagement and participation in urban planning processes to prioritize walkability in neighborhood design.
- Investing in green spaces, parks, and public amenities within walking distance to promote walking as a recreational activity.
- Implementing policies and programs that support active transportation, such as walking and cycling initiatives, and providing incentives for businesses to locate in walkable areas.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.