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Best US cities to live without a car
All 14 cities ranked by households with no car, best first, as of October 2026.
Chicago, IL has the most car-free households at 27.4%, ahead of Miami (18.6%) and Atlanta (14.9%). Anaheim has the fewest at 5.1%.
- 1. Chicago, IL
- 27.4%of households
- 2. Miami, FL
- 18.6%of households
- 3. Atlanta, GA
- 14.9%of households
- 1
Chicago, ILThe one city here where living without a car is normal: over a quarter of households have none.27.4%of households - 2
Miami, FLNear-total fiber coverage and a free downtown people mover, at big-city rents.18.6%of households - 3
Atlanta, GAA monthly Indie Hackers meetup, rail to the airport, and home prices below most cities here.14.9%of households - 4
Portland, ORQuantum Fiber reaches 98 percent of addresses, and one $2.80 TriMet fare covers bus, MAX and the streetcar.13.8%of households - 5
Denver, CONear-citywide fiber and the best bike score on this list.10.3%of households - 6
Tucson, AZThe lowest 1-bedroom rent on this list, and the buses and streetcar are free.9.8%of households - 7
Las Vegas, NVThe lowest Airbnb prices on this list, in a city built for driving.8.9%of households - 8
Chattanooga, TNCity-owned fiber reaches every address, with rents among the lowest on this list.7.9%of households - 9
Asheville, NCSmall mountain city with a $1 bus and weekly founder mornings, best with a car outside downtown.7.6%of households - 10
Austin, TXBig-city tech hub with two near-citywide fiber networks and a $1.25 bus fare.7.4%of households - 11
Nashville, TNA $2 bus ride, a $4 all day pass, and a bootstrapper meetup that actually meets.7.2%of households - 12
San Diego, CABeach city with the highest home prices on this list and a trolley that covers the core.7%of households - 13
Riverside, CAInland Empire prices well below coastal California, with Metrolink trains toward Los Angeles.5.9%of households - 14
Anaheim, CAOrange County base with strong fiber coverage, priced like the coast and laid out for cars.5.1%of households
The numbers behind the ranking
The share of households that own no vehicle, from Census ACS 2024 1-year table B25044. Where many households manage without a car, car-free life is normal: transit, walking and biking actually work. Source: Census ACS 2024 1-year.
| Rank | City | households with no car | Commute by transit | Transit fare | Walkability | Bike score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | 27.4% | 20.5% | $2.75 | 16.8 / 20 | 11 / 100 |
| 2 | Miami, FL | 18.6% | 7.7% | $2.25 | 15.1 / 20 | 28 / 100 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | 14.9% | 5.7% | $2.50 | 15.7 / 20 | 33 / 100 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | 13.8% | 7.1% | $2.80 | 17.1 / 20 | 55 / 100 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | 10.3% | 3.8% | $2.75 | 15.8 / 20 | 47 / 100 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | 9.8% | 2.5% | Free | 14.6 / 20 | 41 / 100 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | 8.9% | 2.6% | $2.00 | 13.9 / 20 | 24 / 100 |
| 8 | Chattanooga, TN | 7.9% | 0.6% | $1.50 | 13.5 / 20 | 33 / 100 |
| 9 | Asheville, NC | 7.6% | 1.3% | $1.00 | 14.6 / 20 | 19 / 100 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | 7.4% | 3% | $1.25 | 15.8 / 20 | 36 / 100 |
| 11 | Nashville, TN | 7.2% | 1.6% | $2.00 | 15.5 / 20 | 36 / 100 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | 7% | 2.6% | $3.00 | 15.5 / 20 | 28 / 100 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | 5.9% | 1.5% | $1.75 | 13.3 / 20 | 26 / 100 |
| 14 | Anaheim, CA | 5.1% | 2.6% | $2.00 | 14.4 / 20 | 23 / 100 |
Questions people ask
Which US city has the most car-free households for digital nomads?
Of the 14 cities on Nomading USA, as of October 2026, Chicago, IL has the most car-free households at 27.4%, ahead of Miami (18.6%) and Atlanta (14.9%). Anaheim has the fewest at 5.1%.
How is households with no car measured?
The share of households that own no vehicle, from Census ACS 2024 1-year table B25044. Where many households manage without a car, car-free life is normal: transit, walking and biking actually work.