benefits of compact, mixed use development

This study examined thousands of real estate transactions in Jefferson County, Alabama, to determine the effect of walkability on property values. Walkability was quantified using WalkScore’s ratings, and the study controlled for population size and growth. It found that property sale values, retrieved from the county tax commissioner, increase with walkability and that this result remains stable over time. The opposite was found as car-dependency (distance from a town center) increased.