How Your Community Walk Score Directly Affects Your Life
We all know that walking is good for us. While the old 10,000 step goal was never based on science , research has shown that, generally speaking, the more you walk , the healthier you become . But the United States is a country built specifically for cars. While more than half of our trips away from home are typically less than three miles round trip (and a quarter of all trips are less than a mile), many of us prefer to drive or use public transportation rather than walk. This has resulted in entire communities that are difficult to walk on and inspired the creation of a very useful metric known as Walk Score .
Walk Score gives you an idea of how easy it is to live somewhere without a car. 100 points means you can literally do everything on foot, and 0 points means you need a car to do just about everything. This is useful information when choosing where to live, but it actually affects more than just your personal health. Here’s what you need to know about your community’s walk rating.
The higher the walking rate, the cleaner the air.
Gas-fuelled cars—even modern, efficient models—spew a lot of carbon dioxide (about 4.6 metric tons per car per year) and other pollutants into our air. People traveling all over your city to run urgent errands means they’re pumping this crap into the air you breathe. A higher walking rate means less driving, which means cleaner air. And cleaner air means fewer respiratory illnesses, a higher quality of life and a smaller carbon footprint.
Property value increases with higher walking score
There was once a time when suburban communities that needed a car just to function were all the rage, but that has changed over the decades, and a global pandemic may have been the final nail in its coffin. These days, higher walk-in scores equate to higher property values because it’s considered a “luxury” amenity – increasing your home’s walk-in score can mean thousands of dollars more in value.
This makes sense if you are buying a new property, of course, because the estimate of walking distance in your intended area could affect any future sale price if you decide to move. But it also means that working to improve your community’s walking rating for your existing home can raise the value of your property, giving you more equity while living a healthier lifestyle.
Car costs go down
Owning a car, as you may have noticed, is expensive, and more expensive every time. The median price of a new car set a record in 2022 at $48,681 , while used cars aren’t even much cheaper at $27,564 . And even if you already own a car, you’re probably spending about $10,000 a year on fuel and maintenance, and that’s not counting unexpected repairs.
A high walking rate means you don’t have to drive a lot. This reduces your fuel costs and wear and tear on your vehicle, resulting in higher repair bills. And if your walking rate is high enough, you can even get rid of your car entirely (or downsize a two-car family to a one-car family) by turning that depreciating asset into cash in your pocket without wasting a second .
The quality of life is improved
It’s simple: Walkable communities are happier . You get to know your neighbors organically and naturally; you interact regularly with local businesses and community leaders; and you feel less isolated. Plus, it’s obvious that your kids will be better off financially , which could work well for you as well. This benefits you directly, but also indirectly—your neighbors are more likely to volunteer or be involved in local affairs. It’s also much easier to throw a party when everyone can just walk to your house instead of having to fire up Google Maps and worry about finding a parking space.