Why You Should Care About Walkability Scores
When looking to move to a new city, or even to a new neighborhood in your current city, walkability can serve as a key deciding factor. To help determine the walkability of different areas, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and private companies have created databases that analyze location-specific information and provide searchable walk score maps for the U.S.
Walk scores often rank on a scale from 0 to 100, according to factors such as the concentration and type of housing options, availability of public transportation and biking lanes, employment opportunities, accessibility of sidewalks and crosswalks, street intersection density, and ease of access to desired amenities like restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, retail locations, and banks. Neighborhoods and cities with more of this infrastructure earn a higher overall score.
The right score for you depends on your lifestyle and what you are looking for in a neighborhood. If you don’t own a car or prefer walking and using public transportation, a higher score would better suit your needs. If you like your space and peace and quiet, a lower score often indicates that. If you want to move to Denver to live in the thick of it all, you should focus your apartment search on neighborhoods with the highest scores.
Just like any other part of the apartment search process, it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of walk score map data. At AptAmigo, we want to support you right out of the gate by providing as much information as possible about Denver’s top walkable neighborhoods. So, is Denver walkable? Find out below.
To learn more about which neighborhood is the right match for you and your needs, contact one of our Locators today. They will take the time to get to know you and your preferences, prepare a list of luxury apartments in neighborhoods that make sense for your lifestyle, set up tours, and even help you with the paperwork.
Related to “Is Denver Walkable?”: Places to Hike Near Denver, Colorado
Denver’s Overall Walkability
So, is Denver walkable? This city, known for its active lifestyle, has a relatively low overall walk score of 61. However, certain parts of downtown boast scores as high as 97. That means, no matter your desired level of walkability, a neighborhood that matches your needs awaits.
Denver’s Neighborhood Walk Scores
While the Mile High City ranks as only somewhat walkable overall, the score varies greatly from one area to another. Read on to learn more about the walkability and characteristics of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods.
Baker: Baker’s walk score of 84 is a bit misleading. Despite a bustling nightlife, the non-walkable portions of Baker that flank Interstate 25 affect the area’s on-foot accessibility.
Berkeley: Berkeley’s score of 82 derives from the convenience of running errands on foot combined with access to the beautiful and picturesque Berkeley Lake and Rocky Mountain Lake parks.
Capitol Hill: With a whopping score of 94, this area blends historical architecture and modern conveniences.
Central Business District: For people who love the convenience of urban living, this district is known for its skyscrapers and its astonishing walk score of 97.
Cheesman Park: Known for its extensive green spaces, this neighborhood’s name says it all. It has a high walk score of 86.
Cherry Creek: One of Denver’s more upscale neighborhoods, this area comes in fairly high at 81.
City Park: Home to the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, this area receives a walk score of 83.
City Park West: Just west of City Park, this more residential neighborhood has a walk score of 87 and is the location of two of the city’s main medical centers.
Denver Tech Center: The location of Denver’s growing tech industry, this neighborhood received a lower score of 79, but works well for someone who prefers a short drive to work.
Five Points: With an art-centric culture and an impressive score of 90, Five Points maintains a creative and historical ambiance while, at the same time, serving as the walkable home of Coors Field.
Golden Triangle: At 97, one of the highest scores in the city, this area imparts a less hectic vibe than downtown, but still provides access to all that it offers.
Jefferson Park: This place houses the Downtown Aquarium and, with a walk score of 86, is one of Denver’s up-and-coming hotspots.
LoDo: With a walkability score of 92, this downtown location delivers a surprisingly residential feel.
LoHi: Long known for its community vibe and extensive dining options, Lower Highlands has a score of 93.
Platt Park: Sitting on Denver’s southside with a relatively high score of 85, this area feels more like a small town than a city.
RiNo: This funky and industrial neighborhood is home to lots of innovation, but somewhat fewer conveniences with a walk score of 74.
Riverfront Park: A much-needed greenspace in the heart of downtown with a score of 90, what’s not to love?
Sloan Lake: Located west of downtown and carrying a walk score of 66, this commuter neighborhood is known for its views of the Denver skyline.
Speer: An older and more laid-back neighborhood, Speer has a reasonably high rating of 86.
University Park: Next to the University of Denver, this eclectic and multicultural area ranks lower for walkability with a score of 67.
Uptown: With a blazing score of 97, Uptown blends charming homes and chic apartment buildings.
Virginia Village: The quiet and calmness of this suburban area comes at the cost of a lower walk score of 66.
Washington Park: Another green oasis just outside of downtown, Washington Park comes with fewer amenities and a rating of 61.
West Colfax: One of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Denver, this area’s score of 71 is sure to change.
West Highland: With housing options for different tastes and budgets, this extremely dog-friendly neighborhood earned a middle-of-the-road walkability rating of 78.
Looking for an Apartment in a Walkable Neighborhood?
Now that you know what a walk score is, your desired score, and what neighborhoods fit your needs, let us take over. At AptAmigo, our knowledgeable Locators know the ins and outs of Denver and can provide you with a more nuanced perspective of each neighborhood and the luxury apartments they offer.
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Melanie Robinson is a writer and poet from Texas. You can learn more about her and her copywriting business on her website.
