Walkable Cities: How Desperate Americans Are Turning The Cheapest Neighborhoods Into Gentrified Havens

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Walkable cities are more than a great place to spend a summer night. They’re also practical, connecting communities and making it easy for residents to get what they need without taking public transport or getting in a car. They also promote health and improve sustainability.

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New York City is the epitome of a walkable city. But with a median home list price of $1.65 million, it’s out of reach for most Americans. That’s true of most walkable cities. Cambridge, MA, known for its walkability, has an average list price of $1.4 million, while West Hollywood has walking-friendly streets but comes with comparable home prices. 

Before giving up your big-city dreams, consider this: There are cities or neighborhoods with a high walkability score and home prices below the national average. These areas of the country can make homeownership, connecting with the community, and creating an eco-friendly lifestyle easier.

When details from Local Logic, a data clearinghouse for neighborhood analytics, combined with property listing data from Realtor.com, areas with median list prices under $445,000 or at less than $233 per square foot showed that there are still great places to live – that are easier to afford, not all are cities, but that makes it better for everyone to find the right fit. 


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Here’s an overview of the top 10, organized from the lowest median listing price:

CityPopulationMedian List Price
Hamtramck, MI27,842$162,500
Baltimore, MD570,000$224,900
Hartford, CT120,682$249,900
Gretna, LA17,640$284,900
Philadelphia, PA1.6 million$289,000
Mount Vernon, NY72,000$329,000
Wilmington, DE71,568$329,900
Berwyn, IL57,000$350,000
Wauwatosa, WI47,919$392,450
East Orange, NJ68,000$421,000

Let’s focus on the cheapest three:

Hamtramck, MI

Hamtramck, MI, has it all if you love a small-town vibe within a big city. It is one of two small municipalities that form an island within Detroit. Hamtramck is five miles north of downtown Detroit. The walkable community includes predominantly Middle Eastern, family-oriented neighborhoods, with many branches of a family living within walking distance of each other. 

With an abundance of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern shops and restaurants, it’s easy to eat well and access a variety of cultural influences. While Detroit doesn’t have the best reputation, you don’t usually see abandoned homes in Hamtramck.

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Baltimore, MD

Baltimore is known for historic districts like Fells Point, waterfront walkways in the Inner Harbor, and Pigtown, home of the Orioles’ Camden Yards. The city also has multiple green spaces and parks that encourage residents to get outside. 

Baltimore has surprisingly low home prices for a bigger city and is within easy transportation distance of Washington, DC. Baltimore’s wide diversity of neighborhoods means there’s a huge variation in home prices. However, with some research, your dollars can go farther here than in most other East Coast cities.

Hartford, CT

Hartford is the state capital and an affordable, walkable city filled with parks, shops, and a great restaurant scene. It boasts historic districts and attractions, plus a dense core ensures most amenities are within walking distance. It’s also a reasonable drive into NYC, Boston, or other major East Coast cities, making it a base for hybrid or remote workers. 

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