Seattle is America’s 8th Most Walkable City
Seattle nabbed the 8th spot on Walk Score’s annual Most Walkable Cities Ranking for the second year in a row. The score is based on the company’s proprietary algorithm, which analyzes over 10 million addresses and 2 billion walking routes in 2,500 cities – and more than 10,000 neighborhoods. The cities are ranked on a scale of 1-100, with a rating 90 or higher deemed “Walker’s Paradise.” Emerald City boasts a 71 walk score, ranking just behind Washington D.C.
Source: WalkScore
Walk Score first introduced its ranking in 2008 and has been using a new algorithm since 2014. The Street Smart Walk Score is calculated using a number of factors such as walking routes, nearby amenities and pedestrian friendliness. The company also computes bike and transit scores for cities as well as individual neighborhoods.
The 71 walk score puts Seattle in the “very walkable” category, meaning that most errands can be accomplished on foot. The ranking also breaks down the city into more specific neighborhood categories. Top five most walkable neighborhoods are, not surprisingly, Downtown, Denny Triangle, Pioneer Square, First Hill and South Lake Union.
Source: WalkScore
There are numerous options for those who want to live in Seattle’s most walkable areas. Downtown, with its score of 98, boasts fantastic choices such as the 5th and Madison Tower or 1521 Second Avenue. Notable buildings in the Denny Triangle (which also scored a 98) include Enso and 2200 Westlake. The First Hill area, with its mix of established towers such as the Meridian and ones under construction, such as Luma, came in at number four. Rounding off the list of top five most walkable neighborhoods is South Lake Union, an area teeming with construction and redevelopment.
Luma – currently under construction in Capitol Hill
The number of Americans who consider the walkability score when picking a neighborhood to settle in is growing. Seattleites are very likely to consider the walkability of various areas, as the city is known for its legendary traffic. Moreover, Seattle’s transit and bike scores are still lagging behind the walkability score, at 57 and 64, respectively.
Want to live in one of Seattle’s most walkable neighborhood? Please contact the Stroupe Group.
