Walking to Your New San Mateo Home

By Rebecca Williamson · August 13th, 2008

With gas prices at an all time high, we are seeing more and more of our clients looking for neighborhoods within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. For those of you looking to find a walkable neighborhood, begin your home search at WalkScore.com.

Simply put in an address (or city and navigate the Google Map that pops up) to see local Grocery Stores, Coffee Shops, Restaurants, Bars, Movie Theatres, Schools, Parks, Libraries, bookstores, Fitness centers, Drug stores, Hardware stores, clothing and music stores, etc. Walk Score also developed an algorithm that calculates a number between 1-100 that estimates the area’s “walkability.” -What does this score mean?

90-100 = Walkers’ Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
70-89 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
50-69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
25-49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
0-24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!
Do you only want to look at properties that are in walkable areas? Walk Score is a great tool to narrow down your list of potential new neighborhoods. Plug the property’s address into Walk Score to determine whether or not it is worth previewing. Don’t waste time and money driving around to properties you would never consider living in.

Curious about your Walk Score or the Walk Score of an area you are looking to relocate? Use our Walk Score widget in the left panel of LivingWellinSanMateo.com to find out.

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