This past week I outlined five key factors to consider when choosing a retirement location: cost of living, accessibility, access to care, lifestyle, and a support system. One crucial aspect of accessibility is walkability. Many older adults value being able to move around their community on foot, and several people who responded to our recent survey shared insights on how they expect the senior living industry to evolve in the coming years.
Pedestrian-friendly communities
Walkability refers to a community’s safe, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure—sidewalks, trails, crosswalks and other walkways that make it easy and safe to get around without a car. Walk Score recently evaluated 141 U.S. cities with populations over 200,000. According to their rankings, the nation’s 10 most walkable cities are:
- New York, New York
- San Francisco, California
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Miami, Florida
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Chicago, Illinois
- Washington, D.C.
- Seattle, Washington
- Oakland, California
- Long Beach, California
Beyond large metropolitan areas, many smaller cities and towns also score highly for walkability. You can consult Walk Score’s database to check the walkability of a neighborhood or address when researching places to retire.
The many advantages of walkability
Walkable communities appeal to older adults for several compelling reasons. The benefits span environmental, financial and health advantages and can improve quality of life for residents of any age.
Environmental benefits
Environmentally conscious retirees increasingly prefer communities designed with sustainability in mind. Walkable neighborhoods reduce reliance on cars, which lowers carbon emissions and traffic congestion. In addition to energy-efficient building design and materials, choosing a walkable location is a simple, everyday way to reduce personal environmental impact because walking produces no pollution and encourages less driving overall.
Financial benefits
Walkability also adds economic value. Homes in walkable neighborhoods often command higher prices because the convenience and lifestyle they offer are in demand. Research shows a one-point increase in Walk Score can boost property value. Living somewhere walkable can also reduce transportation costs; many households find vehicles are their second-largest expense after housing. In walkable communities, it may be feasible to sell a second car or avoid owning one altogether, which can free up monthly income for other needs.
Health benefits
Physical activity is a major factor in longevity and quality of life. Sedentary lifestyles are linked to higher risks of chronic disease and early mortality. Walkable neighborhoods make daily movement easier and more natural, helping residents stay active. Studies have shown that people who live in walkable areas tend to weigh less and engage in more regular activity than those in car-dependent neighborhoods, contributing to better overall health.
More walkable retirement communities
Survey responses from readers highlighted walkability’s role in sustainability, health, and convenience. Many people want retirement communities within walking distance of shops, restaurants, cultural venues and reliable public transportation. This preference is reflected in current design trends for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) or life plan communities, where more developments are choosing metropolitan or town-center locations to offer residents easy access to urban amenities.
CCRCs in suburban or rural settings can still deliver walkability through intentional design. Developers can prioritize sites with natural walking routes and create pedestrian-focused amenities such as trails, outdoor gathering spaces, community gardens, greenhouse plots, outdoor kitchens and dog parks. These features encourage residents to spend time outdoors, socialize and stay active.
For CCRCs outside urban cores, transportation options become especially important. Effective solutions include scheduled shuttles, shared vehicles, on-campus bikes or trikes, and other low-cost mobility options that help residents reach nearby walkable areas and return home easily.
Researching CCRCs’ walkability
Finding walkable CCRCs is straightforward with a bit of online research. Start by checking the Walk Score tool for the neighborhood or address of interest to see how pedestrian-friendly the area is. Then use community search resources to identify nearby CCRCs and review their location and transportation options. You can also enter a specific CCRC’s address into Walk Score to estimate how easy it will be for residents to walk to everyday destinations. Taking these steps will help you identify communities that balance accessibility, amenities and the walkable lifestyle many retirees want.