What is a walk score and how does it work?

Walk scores and walkability are buzzwords that gets thrown around a lot in real estate jargon, but what do they actually mean?

Are they real, measurable things or just real estate chat? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is a Walk Score?

Walk Score is large-scale, publicly available “walkability index” based in the US that allocates a numerical score to any address in the US, Canada or Australia.

A Walk Score defines how “walkable” a property is, primarily by looking at walking routes to nearby amenities. It’s free to use online and there is also a professional, paid version.

Walkability to amenities is very important in property. Picture: Weyne Yew/Unsplash

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Matthew Belford, joint managing director of Melbourne-based residential developer ID_Land, explained a Walk Score as a way for future residents of a property to easily see how connected their home will be to the amenities they use day-to-day, whether that’s shops, public transport, parks, restaurants, cafés or essential services.

How is a Walk Score calculated?

Mr Belford said the Walk Score system takes into account a number of metrics, such as proximity to amenities, accessibility for pedestrians, traffic activity and more, then shows the result as a score out of 100.

Walk Score also measures pedestrian friendliness by analysing population density and road metrics, such as block length and intersection density. 

What is a “good” Walk Score?

“The maximum Walk Score is 100/100, but anything above 90 is considered a ‘walker’s paradise’,” Mr Belford said. That means daily errands can be done without needing a car.

Under the system, 70-89 is classified as ‘very walkable’, meaning most errands can be done on foot, while a score of 50-69 is defined as ‘somewhat walkable’, where some can be.

A score of 25-49 is car-dependent meaning most things require a car and 0-24 is entirely car-dependent. 

Why is walkability important?

Walkability is important to property buyers and renters for a number of reasons, Mr Belford said.

“These reasons include the ease with which residents can access nearby amenities, the benefit to the environment and the reduction in costs associated with less frequent car travel,” he said.

Being near cafes, restaurants and shops gives a high walkability score. Picture: Getty

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The appeal of walkability in the real world

After walkability proved a big attraction on The Barkly, a previous project in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick, ID_L and put the concept at the heart of its next, called Canvas Brunswick.

“(From The Barkly), we understood that future residents would be drawn to walkability and appreciate living within walking distance of local amenities … that drew us to the [Canvas] site.

“Having great walkability and access to nearby amenity is a feature we prioritise in our medium-density acquisitions,” he said.

“Purchasers are being drawn to the idea of walking more and not having to rely on their car entirely, both for environmental and health reasons.

“We’ve also seen a theme among purchasers to date; (they) most already reside in the inner ring suburbs of Melbourne, particularly the inner-north, so they’re already used to being within walking distance of amenity and using multiple modes of transport like walking, cycling, public or private transport,” he said.