While some know the Garden State for its population density, New Jersey’s walkability has caught national media attention after a new analysis named several cities a “walker’s paradise.”
Travel & Leisure recently ranked America’s most walkable places, analyzing Walk Score data for 2,500 cities across the United States. The criteria included walking routes from any address to nearby amenities, population density and road metrics, and sources like OpenStreetMap and the U.S. Census.
Each city scored between 0 and 100 for walkability, with “Walker’s Paradise” scoring 90-100, “Very Walkable” ranking 70-89, “Somewhat Walkable” falling between 50 and 69, and “Car-Dependent” ranking below 49.
Hoboken led the entire country with the highest score among the cities analyzed, clocking in at a whopping 97. Travel & Leisure noted the city’s tight street grid, mixed-use buildings, and its access to PATH, NJ Transit, light rail, and ferry stops when explaining the ranking, all of which contributed to its high score.
“Everything from going to the grocery store to commuting to New York City is doable on foot, no car required, making Hoboken perfect for pedestrians looking to ditch daily car trips,” said the report.
The top three most walkable cities in the report were all in New Jersey, with Union City and West New York tied for the number two spot, earning scores of 94. Jersey City also made Travel & Leisure’s list at #10, giving Hudson County an impressive four entries in the study’s top 10.
Nearby New York City, the Empire State’s only entry on the list, ranked #8. Other notable entries in the “Walker’s Paradise” category include West Hollywood, California, at number 4, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, at fifth place. San Francisco, Somerville, MA, and Hermosa Beach, California, rounded out the top 10.
