The Walk Score

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that “stroll-friendly communities may be the latest housing draw, but in the luxury market the walkability premium is relatively small.” The “Walk Score” measures the effect of walkability on home values. The scale runs from 0 to 100 and tallies things such as population density, nearby restaurants, schools, and stores. A score above 90 is considered a walker’s paradise. The Wall Street Journal also reported that “luxury buyers favor exclusivity and privacy more than proximity to services. For some neighboring stores bring unwanted noise and a variety of other issues.”

Here’s how the Walk Score works. 90-100 Walker’s Paradise (daily errands do not require car),  70-89 Very Walkable (most errands can be accomplished on foot), 50-69 Somewhat Walkable (some errands can be accomplished on foot), 25-49 Car Dependent (most errands require a car), and 0-24 Car Dependent (almost all errands require a car).

Here are some examples of Walk Scores for Santa Barbara. If you live on or near State Street the “Walk Score” is 83.  If you live on or near Coast Village Road in Montecito your “Walk Score” is 63. Personally, I disagree with these scores (they should be higher), but welcome to the Internet.