Top 10 Cities Where You Can Walk and Buy Affordable Homes for Under $450,000

Cities that are good for walking are not just for long summer walks. They are also practical, because you can reach a bodega, pharmacy or farmers market more easily, for example.

However, some of the most walkable American cities are also among the most expensive.

Take New York City, perhaps the most walkable city in the U.S. The average asking price of a home is $1.65 million. For slightly less, $1.4 million, you can pay the average asking price in Cambridge, MA, another very walkable city.

If your tastes run more tropical, consider Miami, where the average asking price for a home is $685,000. On the West Coast, the pedestrian-friendly streets of West Hollywood or Beverly Hills are nice, if you can spend $1.3 million or $5.3 million, respectively, on a home with the average asking price.

It’s no wonder they’re so expensive. Walkable cities promote health, encourage interaction between neighbors, and reduce dependence on cars — all of which contribute to the sustainability and overall feel of a community. In the 2020s, these are all real estate premiums — and some of that is reflected in home prices.

That’s where Realtor.com® decided to dig into the data. Surely there must be walkable cities that are on the more affordable side of the equation. And there are.

When we combined Realtor.com listing data with details from Local Logic, a data clearinghouse for neighborhood analytics, we were able to identify several cities where walkability scores are high and homes cost less than the national average. We focused on locations with a median listing price in June under $445,000 and a median asking price per square foot under $233, the national medians. These locations had to have at least 30 active listings for the month, and we limited it to one city per state to ensure geographic diversity.

The locations range from the streets of Philadelphia, steeped in American history, to areas bordering New Orleans and Milwaukee.

One of the undeniable trends is the prominence of older cities in the Northeast. These areas are known for their dense urban environments, a characteristic that stems from their historical context. They are inherently more walkable because they were designed before automobiles transformed daily life from one that required a dense, close-quartered workforce to one that accommodated commuters in distant suburbs.

Here, homebuyers looking for a walkable neighborhood can find homes at or below the national median asking price.

Median asking price: $421,000 (5% below national median)
Active listings in June: 82
Population: 68,000

East Orange, a 4-square-mile city in Essex County, is compact, urban, and an hour’s drive from Manhattan. Its pedestrian-friendly streets are lined with trees and dotted with parks and community spaces.

The area’s proximity to Newark, NJ, and New York City and relatively affordable home prices are attractive to homebuyers who commute to work.

“I don’t want to travel door to door for more than an hour.”

That is what Marsha Bowen WashingtonAn agent at Coldwell Banker Realty in Livingston, NJ, hears from many of her clients.

“I get that a lot,” she says. “From East Orange, you can be at Penn Station, 34th Street, in 25 minutes.”

According to Bowen Washington, the typical home here is a three-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom house with amenities that might be surprising given its location so close to Manhattan.

“There are very few homes in East Orange that don’t have a yard. Most have a front yard and a back yard,” she says. As for parking, “most have at least a driveway.”

Median asking price: $289,000 (35% below national median)
Active listings in June: 4126
Population: 1,600,000

Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania and by far the largest on our list, has a grid pattern and an extensive public transportation system.

Historic sites and vibrant neighborhoods like Center City and Old City offer plenty for the city dweller on the go. The area is also filled with historic homes and mansions.

“Philly is a big metropolis, right between Washington, D.C. and New York City. But the great thing about it is it’s a tight, compact city with a lot of energy, and there’s a really vibrant vibe and atmosphere, and it’s all about the walkability of the city,” says Jim RocheCEO of Rarity Real Estate in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is known to locals as a “city of neighborhoods,” and each neighborhood has a different character, Roche says.

Two of them stand out to him: Fishtown and East Passyunk, and not just because of their funky names.

“Fishtown is a big, thriving area,” he says, noting its 2018 designation as “America’s Hottest New Neighborhood” by Forbes magazine. “It’s packed with a ton of shops, James Beard Award restaurants, all there.”

East Passyunk is known for a number of top restaurants, which are practically on top of each other along East Passyunk Avenue, he adds.

Compared to nearby metropolitan areas, homes in Philadelphia are significantly less expensive.

Median asking price: $329,000 (26% below national median)
Active listings in June: 70
Population: 72,000

About an hour’s drive north of Manhattan, north of the Bronx and just east of Yonkers, Mount Vernon offers affordable single-family homes and a reasonable commute to New York City.

This Westchester County city is known for its small-town charm, well-maintained streets and a historic downtown that thrives on pedestrian traffic.

It’s just over a 30-minute train ride from New York City, and the city’s many accessible public transportation options make it even more accessible for pedestrians.

Median asking price: $350,000 (21% below national median)
Active listings in June: 49
Population: 57,000

Just 21 minutes west of Chicago, the Second City suburb of Berwyn is a walkable city offering affordable bungalows and Victorian homes.

Berwyn is located on the famous Old Route 66 and even has its own Berwyn Route 66 Museum.

Median asking price: $224,900 (49% below national median)
Active listings in June: 1913
Population: 570,000

Baltimore is known for historic neighborhoods like Fells Point, the Inner Harbor (with waterfront walking trails), and Pigtown (home to the Golden Oriole‘Camden Yards).

The city’s green spaces and parks, including Patterson Park, invite outdoor activities and walking. And the average home price in Baltimore is about half the national rate. However, the great diversity of neighborhoods means that some areas are much more expensive, while other areas are in an economic depression.

Median asking price: $162,500 (63% below national median)
Active listings in June: 35
Population: 27,842

Hamtramck is one of two small communities that form a true enclave, existing as an island within the city of Detroit. Located five miles north of downtown, Hamtramck is culturally diverse and one of the most densely populated cities in Michigan.

“It’s a walkable community with mostly Middle Eastern, family-oriented neighborhoods,” he says. Tina Marie Alfaro from Emmanuel Realty in Detroit.

Families here are often related to families around the corner or on the next block, having moved to the U.S. from the same place, she says. “Probably 80 percent of the grocery stores, the shops, the restaurants are Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.”

The homes here are often duplexes or bungalows built in the 50s and 60s, offering a variety of affordable options.

Unlike some other Detroit neighborhoods, the properties in Hamtramck “are mostly intact and you don’t really see any abandoned houses,” Alfaro says.

She adds that the area offers affordability without blight, with easy access to downtown Detroit and a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

Median asking price: $329,900 (26% below national median)
Active listings in June: 226
Population: 71,568

With historic neighborhoods like Market Street and the Riverfront Wilmington area, this city is designed for walkers. And it’s possible to find a Cape Cod-style home on a corner lot for $270,000.

Median asking price: $392,450 (12% below national median)
Active listings in June: 70
Population: 47,919

About a 15-minute drive west of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa is a neighborhood with a mix of historic and modern single-family homes in a walkable area.

The city regularly hosts community events such as the Tosa Farmers Market and seasonal festivals, making the city attractive to families and young professionals.

Median asking price: $249,900 (44% below national median)
Active listings in June: 44
Population: 120,682

Hartford is the only state capital on our list. It is an affordable city full of parks and great restaurants.

It’s another city with historic neighborhoods and attractions, including the Mark Twain House. Bushnell Park and Colt Park offer walkable green spaces, and a dense core ensures that most amenities are within walking distance.

Median asking price: $284,900 (36% below national median)
Active listings in June: 75
Population: 17,640

Just south of New Orleans, across the Mississippi River, lies Gretna in Jefferson Parish. Anyone who has visited New Orleans knows that it is a pedestrian-oriented layout, as it is one of the oldest cities in the United States. For that reason, it is rich in culture and history.