I rarely mention the “walk scores” of developments and neighborhoods, not because I don’t like WalkScore.com – its maps often reveal a lot about neighborhood amenities — but because its ratings have to be taken with a sizable grains of salt.
See, walk scores aren’t exactly “carless scores,” which might be a more helpful way of looking at accessibility in this city. WalkScore’s founders admit up front that their algorithms don’t take public transportation into consideration. That’s fine if you’re living in my old hometown, but it’s not as suitable for a city with multiple rail and bus systems.
Nor do the scores reflect factors like bike paths and street designs, both of which can open up “unwalkable” neighborhoods to amenities without the need for cars. And finally, I don’t care what anyone says: That bodega a quarter-mile from my front door isn’t a serviceable substitute for a grocery store.
Okay, so walk scores aren’t perfect, but they aren’t useless, either. There’s a lot to be said for living in an area where stores, schools and entertainment are just a short stroll away. According to Walkscore, eight of Chicago’s 77 community areas are “walker’s paradises” (the really green areas in the map above):
- Loop
- Near North Side
- Lincoln Park
- Lake View
- Uptown
- Edgewater
- Near South Side
- Rogers Park
None of those come as a surprise. It gets a little more interesting as you branch out beyond downtown and the North and Far North sides. The following are lists of the three most “walkable” community areas on the Northwest, West / Southwest and South sides.
Northwest Side:
- Logan Square, west of Western Avenue
- Albany Park
- North Center, west of Western Avenue
West / Southwest sides:
- West Town, south of North Avenue and west of Western Avenue
- Archer Heights
- South Lawndale
South Side:
- Hyde Park
- Bridgeport
- Armour Square, south of the Stevenson Expressway
Just one more thing to consider as you’re weighing your next home purchase.