Walkability Remains a Top Priority for Americans

Walkability has real market value, as 63% of Americans say they’d be willing to pay more to live in a community where they could easily walk to parks, shops and restaurants, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2026 Community and Transportation Preferences Survey. 

In fact, the majority of respondents (59%) said that a walkable neighborhood would win over a larger home site that requires more driving. 

Moreover, the top walkable features they wanted included: 

1. Sidewalks and places to walk (89%) 
2. Location within walking distance of shops and parks (82%) 
3. A place to walk or exercise a pet (74%) 

Currently, 71% said the places they need to go to are too far to walk. 

Additionally, 46% of respondents said they believe it should be a high priority for local governments to make it easier to develop communities where people do not have to drive long distances to work or shop, highlighting the role they see governments playing in planning and developing more accessible, connected communities.