How walkable is your neighborhood? How walkable is the area surrounding your business? What makes a neighborhood walkable? Walkscore.com, a web resource that has scored thousands of neighborhoods across the U.S., has the answers. Scores are assigned with values ranging from 0 to 100 based on the following criteria listed on the website:
- A center: walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it’s a main street or a public space.
- People: enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
- Mixed income, mixed use: affordable housing located near businesses.
- Parks and public space: plenty of public places to gather and play.
- Pedestrian design: buildings are close to street, parking lots are relegated to back.
- Schools and workplaces: close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
- Complete streets: streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.
The higher the score, the more walkable the neighborhood. Neighborhoods are then classified by type:
| Walk Score | Type | Description |
| 90-100 | Walker’s Paradise | Daily errands do not require car |
| 70-89 | Very Walkable | Most errands can be accomplished on foot |
| 50-69 | Somewhat Walkable | Some amenities within walking distance |
| 25-49 | Car-Dependent | A few amenities within walking distance |
| 0-24 | Car-Dependent | Almost all errands require a car |
Would your business thrive in a more walkable neighborhood or a more car dependent neighborhood? How does the walkability of a neighborhood affect your site selection? GeoMetrx allows you to evaluate locations on a wide variety of included data as well as allowing you to upload your proprietary data and additional outside data as well; we are here to help you in mapping your success!
For a full list of walkability scores by city along with an interactive map click here.
