Quick answer
The top 3 best walk scores cities in 2026 are 1) New York, 2) San Francisco, 3) Boston. Walk Score 88/100 — one of the most walkable cities in America. Transit 89/100.
Ranking · 2026
Most Walkable US Cities (2026)
The US cities where you can genuinely live without a car. Ranked by Walk Score — a measure of how many daily errands (groceries, restaurants, parks, transit) are reachable on foot.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
The Top 12
- 1
New York, NY
Walk 88/100 · Transit 89/100
Walk Score 88/100 — one of the most walkable cities in America. Transit 89/100.
- 2
San Francisco, CA
Walk 88/100 · Transit 80/100
Walk Score 88/100 — one of the most walkable cities in America. Transit 80/100.
- 3
Boston, MA
Walk 83/100 · Transit 75/100
Walk Score 83/100 — one of the most walkable cities in America. Transit 75/100.
- 4
Philadelphia, PA
Walk 79/100 · Transit 67/100
Walk Score 79/100 — very walkable core. Transit 67/100.
- 5
Chicago, IL
Walk 78/100 · Transit 65/100
Walk Score 78/100 — very walkable core. Transit 65/100.
- 6
Miami, FL
Walk 77/100 · Transit 57/100
Walk Score 77/100 — very walkable core. Transit 57/100.
- 7
Seattle, WA
Walk 74/100 · Transit 59/100
Walk Score 74/100 — very walkable core. Transit 59/100.
- 8
Minneapolis, MN
Walk 69/100 · Transit 55/100
Walk Score 69/100 — walkable in dense neighborhoods. Transit 55/100.
- 9
Los Angeles, CA
Walk 68/100 · Transit 53/100
Walk Score 68/100 — walkable in dense neighborhoods. Transit 53/100.
- 10
Baltimore, MD
Walk 68/100 · Transit 59/100
Walk Score 68/100 — walkable in dense neighborhoods. Transit 59/100.
- 11
Portland, OR
Walk 67/100 · Transit 51/100
Walk Score 67/100 — walkable in dense neighborhoods. Transit 51/100.
- 12
Pittsburgh, PA
Walk 63/100 · Transit 52/100
Walk Score 63/100 — walkable in dense neighborhoods. Transit 52/100.
Methodology
Ranked by Walk Score (out of 100), highest first. Cities above 70 are considered 'very walkable' — groceries and most daily errands don't require driving. Transit Score is shown for context but not used in the ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most walkable US city?
New York City has the highest Walk Score among major US cities at 89/100, followed by San Francisco (88), Boston (83), and Philadelphia (77). These are the only US cities where majority of residents can meet their daily needs without a car.
Can I live in the US without a car?
Yes — but only realistically in about 10 cities. New York, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, Seattle (downtown), and parts of Portland and Minneapolis have walk scores and transit systems that support carless living. Everywhere else, you will need a car at least occasionally.
How much does not owning a car save me?
AAA estimates the all-in cost of owning a car (payment, insurance, gas, maintenance, parking, depreciation) is $9,000–$12,000/year for a typical new sedan. In walkable cities where you can skip car ownership, that savings alone offsets a rent premium of $750–$1,000/month compared to car-dependent cities.
What is Walk Score?
Walk Score is a proprietary 0–100 score from Redfin that measures how many daily errands — groceries, restaurants, schools, parks — are within a short walk of a given address. Scores of 90+ are "walker's paradise," 70–89 "very walkable," 50–69 "somewhat walkable," and below 50 "car-dependent."
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