With a Walk Score of 63, Sydney tops our first ranking of Most Walkable Australian Cities and Suburbs. To arrive at this ranking, we rated the walkablity of more than 100 Australian cities and 3,000 suburbs.  Read the official press release and our ranking methodology.

Australia’s 10 Most Walkable Large Cities

1. Sydney (Walk Score: 63)
2. Melbourne (Walk Score: 57)
3. Adelaide (Walk Score: 54)
4. Brisbane (Walk Score: 51)
5. Perth (Walk Score: 50)
6. Newcastle (Walk Score: 49)
7. Wollongong (Walk Score: 48)
8. Gold Coast (Walk Score: 48)
9. Central Coast (Walk Score: 41)
10. Canberra (Walk Score: 40)

Australians can also look up the Walk Score of their individual addresses and find Walk Score ratings on Harcourts.com.au, Homehound.com.au, realestateworld.com.au, WestRealEstate.com.au and other leading Australian real estate sites.

“Adding Walk Score to our real estate research products resulted in a significant uplift in our site usage,” said Tom White, CEO of PriceFinder.com.au. “The thirst for relevant and useful local information, from buyers, sellers and agents alike, cannot be overlooked and Walk Score provides this in spades. We especially appreciate the insights Walk Score brings to consumers looking to lower the cost of their transportation by selecting locations that suit their preferred transport options.”

Walkability Boosts Health and Real Estate Value

Walkable neighbourhoods offer a number of health and economic benefits. For example, a 10-year long study of Australians by the University of Melbourne found that walkable neighbourhoods with proximity to shops, parks and public transit improve people’s health and wellbeing. And, over the past decade, home values in Sydney’s walkable neighbourhoods have outperformed the rest of the city and can attract a 20% premium.

Apartment & Rental Search in Australia

Apartment Search by Commute Time in Sydney

Today, we’re also excited to launch our unique apartment and rental search for Australia. Search rental listings in major cities across the country by Walk Score and commute time and mode preference (foot, bike, transit, car) on the web and with our updated iPhone app.

Australian Real Estate Opportunity

Australian real estate professionals can now use Walk Score to their advantage. Showcase your properties and market yourself as a local expert. Boost your home listings with neighbourhood information including nearby amenities and commute times.

Learn more about Walk Score for real estate professionals.

Vancouver, with a Walk Score of 78, topped Canada’s most walkable cities in our first ranking of Most Walkable Canadian Cities and Neighbourhoods. We rated the walkability of more than 300 Canadian cities and 1,200 neighbourhoods. (This means Vancouver is the Pacific Northwest’s most walkable large city, outranking our own Seattle by four points). Apartment search and Transit Score are also now available in most major Canadian cities. Read the official press release.

Canada’s Top 10 Most Walkable Large Cities

1. Vancouver (Walk Score = 78)
2. Toronto (Walk Score = 71)
3. Montreal (Walk Score = 70)
4. Mississauga (Walk Score = 59)
5. Ottawa (Walk Score = 54)
6. Winnipeg (Walk Score = 53)
7. Edmonton (Walk Score = 51)
8. Hamilton (Walk Score = 51)
9. Brampton (Walk Score = 48)
10. Calgary (Walk Score = 48)

You can now also find Walk Score ratings on Realtor.ca, RoyalLePage.ca, Centris.ca and other leading Canadian real estate sites.

“Buyers are factoring in what’s nearby in their search for properties,” said Marc Lafrance, The Canadian Real Estate Association’s director of product management. “Adding Walk Score to Realtor.ca provides home buyers with valuable insight into the location of a property and has been well received by our users. Walk Score’s new Canadian city and neighbourhood rankings are a great new resource for people deciding where to live.”

Walkable neighbourhoods offer numerous benefits:

• A recent Toronto Public Health study found overwhelming consumer preference for walkable neighbourhoods with a range of shops and services within walking distance, a short commute to work or school, and easy access to public transit.  The study further found that people living in walkable neighbourhoods have lower body weights and that walkable neighbourhoods contribute to better air quality and traffic reduction.
• People who live in walkable areas are 2.4 times more likely to get the required daily amount of physical activity (Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids: Report of the Standing Committee on Health, 39th Parliament, 1st session, Government of Canada).
• One point of Walk Score adds up to US$3,000 to home values according to independent research conducted by CEOs for Cities.

While the official ranking covers Canadian’s ten largest cities, here are a couple of Canadian notables:

• Of the 1,200 we scored, 30 neighbourhoods are “Walker’s Paradises” with a Walk Score of 90 or higher.
• Toronto has more “Walker’s Paradise” neighbourhoods (17) than Vancouver (3).
• Victoria, highly walkable with a Walk Score of 78, is too small (population under 100,000) to make the ranking, but otherwise would have rivaled Vancouver. And Westmount, a small city on the Island of Montreal (with a population of approximately 20,000) takes home the top Walk Score with a 79.

Canadian Real Estate Opportunity

Canadian real estate agents can now use Walk Score to their advantage. Showcase properties and market yourself as a local expert. Boost your home listings with neighborhood information including nearby amenities, transit access and commute times. All things buyers want. Stimulate new business opportunities by marketing neighborhood value and amenities to buyers. Learn more about Walk Score for real estate professionals.

Toronto apartment search by walking commute

Apartment Search in Canada

We also launched apartment search via the web and our iPhone app in Canada today. Search rental listings in major cities across the country by Walk Score, commute time and mode preference (foot, bike, transit, car), and proximity to public transportation. Search for apartments and rentals now.

Local Insight

Two native Canadian coders who work at Walk Score helped calculate their homeland’s ranking.

Kenshi Kawaguchi, one of our score-maestro engineers from Calgary talks about his home town, “Calgary isn’t really that walkable. In fact, they made a mockumentary about suburban sprawl in Calgary. There are some walkable neighbourhoods, like Kensington, and I think there is definitely a shift towards walkability with some recent neighbourhood redevelopments and a more socially conscious mayor.” Video: New development in Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood.

Walk Score computer systems analyst Tony Targonski, from Toronto, has another angle on Canada’s 2^nd most walkable city. “Toronto’s outer edges have much to gain from improving walkability. Growing up in a 47 (Walk Score) house felt very restrained and I found myself naturally gravitating towards areas that have scores in the 90s. The moment one gets close to a subway station, establishments in every category suddenly become accessible. It’s very liberating.”

1. Good Landlord or Rental Manager
One of the most important qualities of a good (rental) home is the landlord. Does he scramble to come fix your leaking dishwasher the next day or wait a week because he’s so busy? Is he hiding any fees or facts from you and other tenants? Vet your landlord or apartment manager. Ask them how long they’ve been in business. More experienced ones will likely provide better management and have better tenant relations.

I once signed a year-long lease and two days after moving in watched scaffolding go up around the whole building—a year-long construction project. My roommate and I negotiated our rent down significantly after that day. Kelley, a Seattle-area college student says, “My housemates and I just learned that we share our utilities bill with our neighbor unit which is why our bills never made sense when we calculated it out ourselves.”

2. Walkable Location, Location, Location
Being close to amenities like school, shops, cafes can expand your sense of home. Pick an area populated with places that tailor to your needs, tastes, style. Living in highly walkable areas is better for your pocketbook, health and the environment. Chances are you’ll meet new people who also hang out in local hubs, expanding your social circle. If you live alone, this can give you a sense of community. Find the Walk Score of any address. Search for apartments & rentals.

3. Soundproofing
Do you have neighbors that like to listen to Justin Bieber and other questionable “artists?” Exercise your right to listen to sounds of your choosing by renting a place with proper soundproofing. Nothing disturbs a sense of home sanctuary like music or noise that doesn’t jive with your mood or taste.

4. Distance from Busy, Loud Streets
A walkable area doesn’t need to be loud. If you cannot sleep or get any work done because your apartment is smack in the middle of a loud intersection, then maybe it is not the right place for you to live (even with adequate soundproofing). Visit the rental unit during the day and again in the evening and stand still with windows both open, then closed. You’ll get a roughly 24-hour sense of sound day and night before you commit to a lease.

5. Neighborhood Safety
A good apartment can ruin itself if it’s placed in a bad neighborhood. No one wants to stress about the chance of break-ins or being mugged when coming home late. Make sure you’re aware of any crime in the area before you decide to move in. Call the local police department to get crime rates or talk to a few surrounding neighbors. Buyers do this as part of routine due diligence before they buy a house. Renters should do the same.

6. Ability to Customize Space
Some landlords will charge a fee if you decide to paint the walls or drill holes for shelving in your apartment. Make sure you’re aware of this before you decide your living room couch looks nicer in a yellowish hue than boring white walls. You may be able to negotiate making select changes with your landlord. Perhaps prove you are a reliable renter for a few months before asking to change curtains, paint, etc.

7. Pet & Pest Control
Can you keep a pet? It’s definitely a plus if you’re allowed to live with your best furry friend. Don’t lie. Pet-friendly apartments and rentals exist. You just need to spend a little more time to find the right place. On the flip side—don’t by shy to ask the apartment manager about past and recent bug infestations that have occurred in the complex before you move in. Even if things look in the clear, it’s best to avoid infestations at all costs, so set up traps in case any bugs try to move into your furniture.

8. Neighbors
Good neighbors who are good people is an important factor for a good home. Ones who are clean, somewhat quiet and friendly enough to loan you a cup of sugar are likely to help you out if you get locked out, need to use a phone, etc.

9. Your Facility
Does your apartment have a gym? Pool? Laundry room? Bike rack? Extras that come with your complex are something to be aware of as you decide where you want to live. Shop around to find the best facility amenities for your lifestyle.

10. Parking
Are you given a spot to park your car? If so, are you charged for it? Having a secured parking spot at your place reduces stress in finding or paying for a parking spot. However, some landlords will charge you a hefty quarterly fee for it, so investigate before finding your perfect apartment.

Search for apartments and rental units by Walk Score.

Get a Walk Score or Find Rentals on the go! We’ve completely redesigned our app to bring the coolest features of Walk Score to the iPhone. Download the app and try it out, it’s free!

Looking for a lifestyle upgrade? Do you want to drive less and live more? Do you want to find a more vibrant and walkable place to live?

Everything You Need to Find a Place You Love

• Instantly get the Walk Score for any location
• See nearby restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and more
• Find apartments and rentals by commute time
• See fresh listings from top rental sites
• Search for apartments near public transit
• Customize your search: price, beds, pets, etc.
• Save a list of favorite rentals to visit
• Contact landlords on the go

Rental Searching is Fun?!

Our map nerds went wild building out the search by commute and search near transit features. We hope the map nerd in you will have as much fun as we do drawing “transit sheds” (the commute time search radius) while you’re hunting for the perfect pad. And, if you do, please take a moment to review the app in the iTunes store and help us spread the word. Thanks! We look forward to your feedback.

Coffee? Groceries? Schools? Car share? Yoga studio? What’s on your Gotta Have list?

Daily life can be hectic. So living near the places that matter most to you is important.

Our new “Gotta Have” search makes it easy to find apartments and rentals within walking distance of coffee, groceries, restaurants, schools, and more. And now, when you drill in to learn more about the location of a property, you can view nearby amenities and add your own gotta have search to find your perfect place.

Gotta Have a Car Share nearby!

Walk Score is the first apartment search to help you find apartments and rentals nearby car shares from companies such as ZipCar®, Mint® (New York and Boston), iGo™ (Chicago), City Car^SM Share (Bay Area) and Hertz on Demand™. Walk Score currently includes over 4,000 car share locations.

As the newly released Zillow Rent Index shows, rents are on the rise adding to the already high cost of living in many urban areas. And the gas, parking and maintenance costs associated with car ownership (on average over $8,000 per year) makes finding affordable living even more challenging.

Car sharing provides a convenient and cost effective alternative to car ownership and, according to a recent ZipCar study, demand for car sharing is on the rise. This trend is particularly strong among Millenials (age 18-34), 70% of whom indicate that they would drive less if there were more transportation options such as public transit and car sharing available.

Walk Score is the only site to find places to live with a great commute, great access to public transit and, now, within walking distance of a car share. #DriveLessLiveMore

You can now search for apartments by neighborhood with Walk Score’s Apartment Search.

Try it out! Just search for your favorite neighborhood, like French Quarter, New Orleans. Once in “neighborhood mode” you can mouse over the map and click the neighborhood outline to add or remove it to your search area.

There’s also a “Neighborhoods” menu option, so you can enable ‘hoods at any point in an apartment search and view a list of neighborhood names to choose from.

Want to see our new neighborhood search in action? Watch this video:

Wish you could spend less time in your car? Our new Apartment Search features are for you!

Search by Multiple Commute Times

Just six weeks ago we launched apartment search by commute time. Now we’ve added the ability to search by multiple commutes.

Let’s say you bike to work downtown and your spouse or roommate takes the bus to school.  Walk Score finds apartments that optimize the commute of everyone in your home.  See an example commute search.

Find Apartments Near Transit

Want to find an apartment within walking distance of the subway or the express bus that goes to your office?

No problem, with our new “Near Transit” search option you can select the transit route that you’d like to live near and how far you’re willing to walk to the stop. See transit search in action.

Search by Walk Score

Whether you want to be in the heart of it all, or just don’t want to have to drive to get a cup of coffee, Apartment Search now includes the ability to search by Walk Score.

Select the Walk Score search filter and click Walker’s Paradise to find only Walk Score 90+ apartments. See Walker’s Paradise apartments in Seattle.

Did you know:

• The longer your commute, the more likely you are to be overweight, have high cholesterol and suffer from neck/back pain (Source: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index)
• Car ownership costs are the second largest household expense in the U.S. The average household spends more on their cars than they do on food and health care. (Source: Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• People who live in walkable neighborhoods are happier, healthier and more likely to volunteer and entertain friends at home (Source: University of New Hampshire)

Now, with Walk Score Apartment Search you can search for apartments by commute time.

Whether you prefer driving, public transit, walking, or biking, Walk Score can help you find a commute that fits your lifestyle.

Commuting is expensive and time spent sitting in traffic is lost forever. Here are our favorite commuting stats:

• Over three quarters of home shoppers rate being within a 30 minute commute to work as important. (Source: National Association of Realtors)
• Commuters waste 4.2 billion hours and 2.8 billion gallons of gas in traffic per year. (Source: Texas Transportation Institute)
• The average American spends over $9,000 per year on their car. This is the equivalent of a $135,000 mortgage and the second largest expense for most households, costing more than food, clothing and health care. (Source: AAA)

To get started, visit walkscore.com/apartments and enter your work (or school) address, select your preferred mode of transportation, and tell us how long you’re willing to commute.

Apartment listings from craigslist are automatically sorted by estimated commute time and can be further filtered by Walk Score, price and size.

And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, we’ve integrated links to MyNewPlace and ForRent.com to search their national databases for nearby rental listings.

“Access to public transit and minimizing commute times are high-priority, quality of life issues for many renters. We’re very pleased to offer Walk Score users access to MyNewPlace’s extensive inventory of apartments and rental homes in virtually every neighborhood throughout the U.S.,” said Mark Moran, MyNewPlace SVP of Marketing.

Here’s a demo:

Find a better commute today!

MyNewPlace, the second most trafficked apartment and home rentals Web site in the U.S., now makes it easy to find the most walkable apartments for rent in your city.

And when you look up an address on the Walk Score site you now have 1-click access to see nearby apartments for rent on MyNewPlace, sorted by Walk Score!

“With the addition of search by Walk Score rating, MyNewPlace may be the ‘greenest’ apartment site on the Web, “said Mike Mathieu, founder of Front Seat, makers of Walk Score. “The easiest way to save money on transportation and lower your environmental impact is to move to a more walkable neighborhood and that is attractive to many renters.”

Sort by Walk Score on MyNewPlace:

Search results show their Walk Score in the summary:

Walk Score now links to nearby Walkable Rentals from MyNewPlace:

Widget!
We also built a widget with MyNewPlace that you can put on your own site to help your visitors find walkable apartments.

Get this widget for your site!

“A recent MyNewPlace survey indicated 79 percent of renters believe neighborhood information is an important factor when deciding on a particular apartment over another,” said Mark Moran, vice president of marketing for MyNewPlace. “Utilizing leading-edge walkability technology available from Walk Score allows us to provide prospects with an in-depth feel for a neighborhood thereby making them a more qualified lead for landlords.”

A big thanks to all the folks at MyNewPlace for all their great work on helping to promote walkable neighborhoods!