What is Your Neighborhood's Walk Score?

Looking for a neighborhood where walking to the store, a park, or a restaurant is actually possible? Tired of paying the toll for having to drive for everything? You aren't alone. It's now more important than ever to consider where to live and how close you'll be to the things you need, want, and like to do. Gone are the days when the cost of gas was a minor consideration compared to having that cool house way out there somewhere.

Just like you research other aspects of prospective homes, you can now get what's called the walk score for neighborhoods you are considering. Go to the Walk Score website, enter an address, and it will give you a walkability rating of between one and a hundred. For example, I looked up walk scores for the Reno / Tahoe neighborhood profiles I've done and found a wide variation right here in Reno. Areas close to downtown come out on top with scores above 90, making them a Walker's Paradise. Out in the burbs, I profiled one with a score below 24, earning it a Car Dependent designation. Of course, some of this is subjective and you may not agree, but I think the walk score is another important piece of information to have when making the major decision of where to live.