According to the recent National Community and Transportation Preference Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors and the Transportation Research Center at Portland State University, Americans are seeking out walkable communities more than ever before. In fact, 48 percent of respondents said they would sacrifice a larger yard for a home within easy walking distance of the community’s amenities. Furthermore, 25 percent of respondents who live in detached, single-family homes stated they would rather live in an attached home and have greater walkability.
Here are some additional findings from the survey:
- Eighty-five percent of participants said sidewalks are a positive factor when purchasing a home, and 79 percent place importance on being within easy walking distance of places.
- Walkability was particularly favored by women, with 61 percent indicating that having sidewalks with stores and restaurants to walk to is very important.
- More than half of survey participants stated that expanding public transit and providing convenient alternatives to driving should be high priorities for the government.
More than any other group, millennials show a preference for walking over driving, for attached housing and for the expansion of public transportation
