Bill Gates Can Walk to Buy a Slurpee–Can You? Calculate Your Home’s Walk Score

Walkscore.com is an interesting little website that gives you the quick and dirty lowdown on the walkable amenities around a particular house or neighborhood. You can use this website to get a list of the names and distances to grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, schools, coffee shops, bars, hardware stores, etc. that might be around any specific address that you enter. Walkscore.com also rates the walkability of a home by calculating an index number, known as the “Walk Score,” based on the distance to walkable locations near an address, though it doesn’t take into account all factors. The Walk Score scale is:

90 – 100 = Walkers’ Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
70 – 90 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
50 – 70 = Some Walkable Locations: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
25 – 50 = Not Walkable: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
0 – 25 = Driving Only: Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

You can use this site to see what’s around any potential home that you’re considering buying, or you can use it to see what’s around your current home. Even if you think you know what’s around your home, take a look, you might be surprised. Heck, I just found out that my neighbor is running some sort of auto parts business out of his garage, though I’m fairly sure that this is not ok per our neighborhood CC&Rs!

While you’re there, take a look at the few celebrity homes that are listed on the site. Brad and Jenn couldn’t walk too many things from their pre-breakup home, but did you know that Bill G. can walk to his local Circle K for a slurpee? (It’s only 0.89 miles down the road from his Medina digs. )