New York City ranked 1st in walkable urban metro areas: study

NEW YORK (PIX11) – A new study has ranked the Big Apple first in walkable urban metro areas around the U.S.

The study from Smart Growth America uses data on offices, rental multi-family homes, retail spaces and for-sale housing to rank the walkability of cities. It also considers how easily residents can get around a city without having to use a car.

Around 73% of walkable areas in New York City are surrounded by offices – the highest percentage compared to other cities, according to the city. In comparison, 60% of walkable areas in Seattle share space with offices.

The study also concluded that 70% of all multi-family rentals in the city are in a walkable area. Retail spaces make up nearly 60% of walkable spaces in New York City, while for-sale housing is at almost 18%, according to the study.

Boston and Washington, D.C. ranked second and third for their walkable areas.

Here are the top 10 walkable urban metro areas in the U.S., based on the study:

1. New York City
2. Boston
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Seattle
5. Portland
6. San Francisco
7. Chicago
8. Los Angeles
9. Pittsburgh
10. Philadelphia