Some previously unnoticed advantages
of walkable neighborhoods.

Walkable WashingtonA walkable neighborhood can help climate-proof our lives; we know that. It cuts the number of gallons of gas we buy, maybe the number of cars we own. Reduced traffic lowers road maintenance costs and thus our state and local tax bill. Walking improves our health and lowers long-term healthcare costs.

Now comes another advantage: much greater economic activity in the community. A new study finds that in Washington DC, deemed the most walkable U.S. city, the most walkable areas represent almost half of the wealth-generating square footage for the whole city. Another strong correlation is between walkability and educational attainment in the neighborhood. Should walkability be moving up among your criteria for a climate-proof place to live?