For some people, driving is a pleasure. For others, it’s annoying or even stressful. And that’s not to mention the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle, which averages over $11,000 annually.
Unfortunately for the folks who don’t love driving, it’s basically a requirement to live and work in many parts of America. So, if you’re among the one in ten Americans who rarely or never drive—or you aspire to become one of them—where are the places that you can thrive without a vehicle? We compiled key data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other sources to determine the answer.
Key Findings
- Washington, D.C., Jersey City, NJ, and Boise, ID are the best cities in the US to live car-free.
- Memphis, TN; Jackson, MS; and St. Paul, MN are the worst cities in the US for those trying to live car-free.
- Minneapolis, MN, and Portland, OR, are the best cities for cyclists.
- Yonkers, NY, is the worst city for cyclists in the US.
The Best and Worst Cities for Car-Free Living
Here’s our top (and bottom) three cities for people who want to live, work, and get around without a personal vehicle:
- Top Three
- Washington, DC
- Jersey City, NJ
- Boise, ID
The first two cities might not be big surprises. Washington, DC is known for its Metro public transit system, as well as its walkable plazas and boulevards. Jersey City has transit infrastructure that’s nearly on par with NYC, but in a more spacious and affordable location.
Our real dark horse is Boise, ID. This scenic western city isn’t typically associated with car-free living, but it has quietly made significant investments in bike trails, footpaths, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. It’s one of the many reasons why Boise is regularly ranked among America’s top 10 metros for net migration from other states.
- Bottom Three
- Memphis, TN
- Jackson, MS
- St. Paul, MN
In these three cities, it’s exceptionally difficult—or even dangerous—to get around without a car. Memphis and Jackson are two highly car-oriented cities in the Sun Belt. St. Paul, meanwhile, suffers from a lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and devastatingly cold winter temperatures.
The Best Cities for Cyclists
If you’d prefer to get around on two wheels, we might suggest making your home in Minneapolis, MN, or Portland, OR.
A bike offers more speed and flexibility than walking, but at a fraction of the cost of driving. That makes it a happy medium for many people, especially in cities like Minneapolis and Portland. They’re two of the best cities for biking, with lots of infrastructure like trails and bike lanes that make them a pleasure to pedal around.
Yonkers, NY, takes the dubious distinction of America’s worst biking city. Its score is so low due to its relative lack of biking infrastructure—but it also scores relatively high for walkability. Honolulu, HI, ranks second, reflecting the unique infrastructure challenges posed by its geography. Among the other cities, many are located in the Deep South, which tends to have a lack of bike infrastructure overall.
Link: https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/25514922/
Find a Car-Free City Near You
We created a table so you can see the best and worst cities for car-free living in each state, just in case you’re looking to move but don’t want to change states. Here’s the low-down:
Link: https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/25515099/
Some states have a big gap between their best and worst cities for car-free living. In California, for example, San Francisco is highly rated for living without a car. But try getting around Bakersfield without one, and you’ll have a much harder time.
In others, a personal vehicle is a must-have even in big cities. This is the case in many Southern states, as well as in geographically remote states like Alaska. Ultimately, the truth is that the United States is just really big, so getting around it without a car may require you to choose a location that makes car-free living feasible.
Freedom Beyond Four Wheels
Despite the long history of the personal automobile as an American institution, an increasing number of people are opting to explore car-free or car-light lifestyles. Whether you want to skip auto ownership entirely or just cut down on time spent in traffic, there are options out there to suit you.
One other potential advantage of the car-free life: You won’t have to worry about how to get your vehicle home after you’ve been drinking alcohol. Tragically, drunk driving is still a major cause of preventable deaths among Americans. Prevention starts with making the call not to drive when you’ve been drinking—and that’s a lot easier when you didn’t drive there in the first place.
For those on a journey to safer driving, Smart Start is ready to be your co-pilot. Our Ignition Interlock Devices help drivers get back on the road safely after a DUI.
Methodology
To determine which cities are best for a car-free lifestyle, we looked at the walk score, transit score, and bike score from WalkScore. We also factored in the number of people commuting by walking or public transportation, which we got from the US Census American Community Survey. Additionally, we looked at the number of pedestrians involved in fatal accidents from NHTSA. To determine trail and park quality, we gathered data from People for Bikes. Then, to determine the safety of the area, we examined the number of violent crimes reported to NIBRS. And finally, we gathered weather data from NOAA.
Then, to create a final score, we gave each metric the following weighting:
- Walk score: 15%
- Transit score: 15%
- Bike score: 15%
- Number of commuters walking per 100,000 residents: 5%
- Number of commuters taking public transit per 100,000 residents: 5%
- Number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians: 10% (inversely weighted)
- Average residential speed limit: 4% (inversely weighted)
- Parks score: 3%
- Trails score: 3%
- Number of violent crimes: 10% (inversely weighted)
- Average January low: 5%
- Average July high: 5% (inversely weighted)
- Average annual rainfall: 5% (inversely weighted)