What Is a Walkability Score in Commercial Real Estate?

LoopNet listings show that property's walkability score on a scale from zero to 100. A higher score means it's easier for tenants or customers to take care of daily errands on foot and without a car.

A walkability score is not a rating of a neighborhood's general appearance, architecture, or historic character. It's based on the number of nearby stores, restaurants, and services within walking distance, along with how pleasant that walk is.

For investors comparing multiple pieces of commercial property for sale, a higher walkability score can help you evaluate one asset versus another. A multifamily property for sale with a high walkability score, for example, may appeal to tenants who value being able to get around without a car. That said, a low score doesn't mean a weak asset, especially if the asset type is better served by another transportation score.

LoopNet listings evaluate four transportation scores: Walkable, Drivable, Transit, and Bikeable.

LoopNet measures the walkability of each listing on a scale from zero to 100, in addition to the three other transportation scores. Each measures a different mode of transportation to the location, and together they offer an overview of how accessible a property is.

An asset with a low walkability score can still perform well if its other transportation scores are higher or if future tenants care more about a different metric.

How Are Walkability Scores Calculated?

The score is based on the walking distance between an address and several nearby amenities.

A walkability scoring system takes an address, then identifies nearby stores, restaurants, and other amenities and measures the walking distance to each one. More amenities within a short walk increases the score while fewer amenities or longer walks to reach them pushes it down.

For example, a property within a short walk of several grocery stores and restaurants will score higher than one where those same amenities require driving, even if both are in the same general area.

What Counts as a Good Walkability Score?

A good walkability score depends on the asset type, not a fixed number.

On LoopNet listings, walkability is scored from zero to 100, with higher numbers reflecting easier access to day-to-day amenities on foot.

A score of 90 or above suggests tenants or customers can handle all their day-to-day errands without a car. In some markets, local zoning ties parking minimums to walkability, so this can be worth raising with your municipality, but don't assume a reduced parking requirement without confirming it locally.

There's no universal "good" score across commercial real estate. An industrial investor might consider a walkability score of 50 or 60 acceptable as long as the drivable score is higher, since tenants tend to arrive by vehicle. But the same score for ground-floor retail property that needs foot traffic would be a detriment.

Match the score to what your asset type actually needs. There's no universal number to target.

The impact of a walkability score depends on how people reach the property.

How renters, employees, customers, or tenants get to a property will vary depending on asset type, so a walkability score will carry a different weight depending on whether you're considering a multifamily investment, an industrial location, or another asset entirely.

For multifamily properties, walkability can be a meaningful factor, since renters are more likely to value the ability to run errands on foot. However, drivable and transit scores will matter as well, and which one carries the most weight depends on the local market and renter profile.

For office properties, walkability can shape how conveniently employees can handle day-to-day needs, but commute methods will matter just as much.

Retail properties typically follow a similar logic, but walkability score will matter differently depending on the location and type of retail property. Foot traffic is a benefit, especially in dense, walkable areas, but a strong drivable score supports car-based shopping in other locations.

On the other hand, a high walkability score is less likely to matter for an industrial property, where employees and freight depend on vehicle access.

How Do You Use Walkability Score During Due Diligence?

Treat walkability score as one input in your investment analysis, not a deciding factor.

Walkability can be worth factoring into your due diligence along with several other location metrics.

For example, a low walkability score for a multifamily property often points to a smaller renter pool, which is worth factoring into your lease-up timeline and renewal projections. A property that performs well in the transportation scores that matter for its asset type, on the other hand, can help support higher rent assumptions when used in tandem with other factors.

What Are the Limitations of a Walkability Score?

A walkability score cannot capture everything about how a place actually feels or functions.

Walkability and other transportation scores are useful metrics, but they can't paint a complete picture of a property or its location.

A score is based on data at a point in time, so they can't take into account recent construction, recently closed businesses, sidewalk condition, and more. They also don't capture what it actually feels like to walk through an area during the day or night.

That means transportation scores like walkability are a useful starting point, but it's still important to verify details with a site visit before factoring them heavily into your investment decision. Leaning on the score alone can mean missing a dealbreaker a quick site visit would have caught.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a high walkability score guarantee a rent premium or higher property value?

No. A walkability score is descriptive, not predictive. It measures access to nearby amenities, but it does not calculate or guarantee a specific effect on rent or property value. Rent and value depend on a wider set of factors, including tenant demand, lease terms, capital markets, and local supply and demand, all of which vary by market. Treat a strong walkability score as one input that may support an investment thesis, not as a stand-in for the market research and financial analysis a deal actually requires.

Does a walkability score account for crime or safety data?

Not directly. A walkability score is primarily based on the number and proximity of nearby amenities. The scoring provider does not publish a full breakdown of every factor included, so don't assume it reflects crime data or other safety conditions. Check local crime data separately as part of your own due diligence.

Is a walkability score the same as Walk Score?

Not exactly. Walk Score is one company's specific walkability rating, calculated using its own data and methodology. LoopNet uses a scoring system developed by Local Logic to calculate a similar score that uses different methodology, but which ultimately addresses the same underlying concept of walking access to nearby amenities.

Can a property with a low walkability score still be a good investment?

Yes, depending on the asset type and tenant base. A low walkability score usually means fewer day-to-day amenities within walking distance, which matters most for property types where tenants or customers rely on foot traffic, such as multifamily housing or ground-floor retail. For asset types like industrial or logistics properties, where employees and freight typically arrive by vehicle, a low walkability score is often expected and does not reflect a weaker location. Evaluate the score against what matters for the specific property type rather than assuming a low number signals a weak deal across the board.