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NAR Community and Transportation Preference Surveys

NAR 2020 Community and Transportation Preference Survey

A national poll conducted in July of 2,000 adults in the fifty-largest metro areas found that the Coronavirus pandemic has caused some shift regarding where families with children would like to live, specifically an increased preference to a setting where they can have a detached home with a large yard. That said, interest in walkable communities is alive and well, and there still exists a margin of one-in-five living in a detached home currently that would prefer to live in an attached home in a walkable community with shorter commute. This compares to one-in-ten that would prefer to move from an attached home in a walkable community to a detached dwelling (slide 30 in Detail Analysis). Finally, people with place to walk in their community continue to be the most satisfied with their quality of life (slide 10 in Detail Analysis).

NAR 2017 Community and Transportation Preference Survey

A national poll of 3,000 adults in the fifty largest metro areas found that it is no longer just Millennials propelling interest in walkable communities. This new report shows that the Silent and Greatest Generation prefer smaller homes in neighborhoods with easy walks to shops and restaurants. The poll was conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®.

NAR & Portland State University 2015 Community and Transportation Preference Survey

A national poll of 3,000 adults in the fifty largest metro areas found that Millennials are distinguishing themselves as the generation that, more than any other generation, prefers to walk. The poll was jointly conducted by the National Association of Realtors® and researchers at the Portland State University.

Press release (PDF: 190 KB)
Topline results (PDF: 222 KB)
Infographic
Analysis and slides (PDF: 545 KB)

NAR 2013 Community Preference Survey: Americans Prefer to Live in Mixed-Use, Walkable Communities

According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2013 Community Preference Survey, 60 percent of respondents favor a neighborhood with a mix of houses, stores, and other businesses that are within walking distance, rather than neighborhoods requiring driving between home, work, and recreation. Respondents indicated that while the size of a home or yard does matter, most are willing to compromise size for a preferred neighborhood and less commuting.

Full press release (PDF: 187 KB)
Topline results (PDF: 203 KB)
Analysis and slides (PDF: 1 MB)

For more information, please contact:

Hugh Morris
Manager, Smart Growth Programs
National Association of REALTORS®
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202/383-1278
E-mail: hmorris@nar.realtor