Boston is already among the three most walkable cities in the U.S., and new research finds that Beantown’s current construction boom will only boost the city’s walkability further.
According to a report from Redfin, a whopping 85 percent of Boston’s new construction is more walkable than the city’s already high Walk Score of 81. In just the last year, Boston’s Walk Score has increased the third most in the U.S.
As we’ve reported in the past, walkability and convenience – rather than the privacy and sprawl that defined Baby Boomer construction efforts – are two of the most important qualities to 21st century homebuyers, and builders are clearly taking notice of those trends.
Here is how Boston compares with other walkable-construction areas:
| City | Percentage of Especially Walkable New Homes | City Walk Score |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 91% | 78 |
| Chicago | 89% | 78 |
| Cleveland | 88% | 59 |
| St. Petersburg | 88% | 42 |
| Boston | 85% | 81 |
| Seattle | 81% | 73 |
| Washington D.C. | 75% | 77 |
| Denver | 73% | 60 |
| San Francisco | 73% | 86 |
| Dallas | 62% | 45 |