Getting your daily steps in may be a little easier if you live in Hoboken, New Jersey. Earlier this month, Architectural Digest released a list of the nine most walkable cities in the U.S. based on recent studies, Redfin’s Walk Score tool, and consultations with realtors, residents, and tourism experts.
The 1-square-mile city, which sits just across the Hudson River from downtown Manhattan, earned the top spot due to its ample public transportation and dense street grid. It received a 97 out of 100 on Walk Score, which measures the ability for residents to run errands and access amenities without a car — factors that can go a long way for physical health, mental health, and the health of the planet.
“[Walkability] can benefit everything from household finances and health to the environment and overall quality of life,” Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, told the outlet. She added: “Walkable neighborhoods also create more opportunities for people to interact with local businesses, use public spaces and resources, and connect with their neighbors.”
Science backs up those benefits. A 2021 paper showed higher walkability was associated with lower mortality rates in a cohort of 13,832 women. And a 2020 study of over 31,000 adults found that those living in high-walkability areas were 150% more likely to engage in adequate levels of physical activity and 76% less likely to be obese. Additionally, research from 2013 suggested that participants who walked more in their neighborhood experienced improved social interactions and felt more social cohesion within the community.
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In terms of the planet, Elizabeth Sawin, director of the Multisolving Institute, a research organization focused on climate change, equity, health, well-being, and biodiversity, summed up the power of walkability in a 2024 interview with Grist: “Every trip taken on foot instead of by a fossil fuel-powered car reduces greenhouse gas emissions.”
Here’s the full list of America’s most walkable cities from Architectural Digest:
1. Hoboken, New Jersey
2. West Hollywood, California
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. San Francisco, California
5. New York, New York
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Chicago, Illinois
8. Miami, Florida
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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