All cities / Rankings / Most walkable
Most walkable US cities for digital nomads
All 14 cities ranked by EPA walkability index, out of 20, best first, as of October 2026.
Portland, OR has the most walkable core at 17.1 out of 20, ahead of Chicago (16.8) and Austin (15.8). Riverside has the least walkable at 13.3.
- 1. Portland, OR
- 17.1/ 20
- 2. Chicago, IL
- 16.8/ 20
- 3. Austin, TX
- 15.8/ 20
- 1
Portland, ORQuantum Fiber reaches 98 percent of addresses, and one $2.80 TriMet fare covers bus, MAX and the streetcar.17.1/ 20 - 2
Chicago, ILThe one city here where living without a car is normal: over a quarter of households have none.16.8/ 20 - 3
Austin, TXBig-city tech hub with two near-citywide fiber networks and a $1.25 bus fare.15.8/ 20 - 4
Denver, CONear-citywide fiber and the best bike score on this list.15.8/ 20 - 5
Atlanta, GAA monthly Indie Hackers meetup, rail to the airport, and home prices below most cities here.15.7/ 20 - 6
San Diego, CABeach city with the highest home prices on this list and a trolley that covers the core.15.5/ 20 - 7
Nashville, TNA $2 bus ride, a $4 all day pass, and a bootstrapper meetup that actually meets.15.5/ 20 - 8
Miami, FLNear-total fiber coverage and a free downtown people mover, at big-city rents.15.1/ 20 - 9
Asheville, NCSmall mountain city with a $1 bus and weekly founder mornings, best with a car outside downtown.14.6/ 20 - 10
Tucson, AZThe lowest 1-bedroom rent on this list, and the buses and streetcar are free.14.6/ 20 - 11
Anaheim, CAOrange County base with strong fiber coverage, priced like the coast and laid out for cars.14.4/ 20 - 12
Las Vegas, NVThe lowest Airbnb prices on this list, in a city built for driving.13.9/ 20 - 13
Chattanooga, TNCity-owned fiber reaches every address, with rents among the lowest on this list.13.5/ 20 - 14
Riverside, CAInland Empire prices well below coastal California, with Metrolink trains toward Los Angeles.13.3/ 20
The numbers behind the ranking
The EPA National Walkability Index scores every census block group from 1 to 20 on street connectivity, transit access and the mix of homes, jobs and shops. We average the block groups within 2 miles of downtown, weighted by population. Source: EPA National Walkability Index.
| Rank | City | EPA walkability index, out of 20 | Within 5 miles | Walk to work | No-car households | Transit fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | 17.1 | 15.9 | 4.3% | 13.8% | $2.80 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | 16.8 | 15.5 | 7.1% | 27.4% | $2.75 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | 15.8 | 13.7 | 3.2% | 7.4% | $1.25 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | 15.8 | 14.9 | 3.6% | 10.3% | $2.75 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | 15.7 | 13.7 | 4.8% | 14.9% | $2.50 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | 15.5 | 14.4 | 3.8% | 7% | $3.00 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | 15.5 | 13 | 2% | 7.2% | $2.00 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | 15.1 | 15.2 | 4.1% | 18.6% | $2.25 |
| 9 | Asheville, NC | 14.6 | 11.5 | 3.4% | 7.6% | $1.00 |
| 10 | Tucson, AZ | 14.6 | 13 | 3% | 9.8% | Free |
| 11 | Anaheim, CA | 14.4 | 14.1 | 1.3% | 5.1% | $2.00 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | 13.9 | 13.4 | 1.1% | 8.9% | $2.00 |
| 13 | Chattanooga, TN | 13.5 | 10.3 | 1.4% | 7.9% | $1.50 |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | 13.3 | 11.8 | 2.3% | 5.9% | $1.75 |
Questions people ask
Which US city has the most walkable downtown for digital nomads?
Of the 14 cities on Nomading USA, as of October 2026, Portland, OR has the most walkable core at 17.1 out of 20, ahead of Chicago (16.8) and Austin (15.8). Riverside has the least walkable at 13.3.
How is EPA walkability index, out of 20 measured?
The EPA National Walkability Index scores every census block group from 1 to 20 on street connectivity, transit access and the mix of homes, jobs and shops. We average the block groups within 2 miles of downtown, weighted by population.