Moving to a new city? Get the Transit Score of the area

Just like Walk Score measures the walkability of any area and Bike Score measures whether it’s good for biking or not, a Transit Score measures access to public transit. That is, how well the particular address or location is served by public transportation. Presently, Transit Score is applicable to approximately 40 cities whose transit agencies release data in the GTFS format. If you’re looking to buy a home in a new city, you’d want to know all its aspects, including travel options.

What is a Transit Score of an area?

Transit Score is a metric used to assess the accessibility and convenience of public transportation options in a specific location, typically a city or a neighborhood. It is commonly used in real estate and urban planning to help individuals and businesses evaluate the transportation options available in a particular area.

How is the Transit Score calculated?

The Transit Score is based on a variety of factors, including the frequency and reliability of public transportation services (such as buses, trains, and subways), the distance to transit stations, the nearest stops on the route, nearby routes, and the overall connectivity of the transit network. The score is usually a numerical value, ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better access to and utilization of public transportation.

What does the score tell you?

A high Transit Score suggests that an area has robust and easily accessible public transportation options, making it more convenient for residents to get around without relying heavily on personal vehicles. On the other hand, a low Transit Score might indicate that an area has limited public transportation options, making it more dependent on private cars for commuting.

The U.S cities with the most Transit Scores are: 

• New York (88.6)
• San Francisco (77.1)
• Boston (72.4)
• Jersey City (70.5)
• Washington D.C. (68.7)
• Philadelphia (67.0)
• Newark (65.0)
• Chicago (65.0)

Why is it important to know the Transit Score of a place?

Convenient transit access to workplaces, across income levels, broadens the spectrum of options for housing and employment opportunities for residents. And, reduces the dependence on cars – thereby decreasing transportation expenses as well as greenhouse gas emissions. 

The saved funds can then be used for essential needs such as childcare, education, healthcare, down payments, loan repayments, and savings or a rainy day fund. Ultimately, the entire community becomes more robust both economically and environmentally.

Transit Scores can be a valuable tool for people looking to move to a new area, as well as for urban planners and policymakers seeking to improve transportation infrastructure and promote sustainable urban development. 

Want to know more about your neighborhood?

Moving to a new city or buying a house in a new neighborhood can be overwhelming. And, that’s when Kukun iHomeReport comes to your aid. Right from understanding the financial implications of buying a particular house, to getting the names and distances of the nearest schools, parks, trails, clubs, hospitals, shopping centers, and the town center, this data-driven platform will give you all the information about an area you could possibly want. 

What’s more, you get details about the local transit, walking and biking access, air quality, crime rates, and even natural hazards that the area is prone to. 

All you have to do is simply sign up with your residential address to get access to such valuable information. It makes moving to a new place seamless and convenient for everyone.  

Key takeaway

Transit Score gauges the quality of public transportation service available in a specific area – the score ranging from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the better the public transit facilities. If you want to know and understand a neighborhood before you move into it utilizing Kukun iHomeReport, apart from Transit Score, is a great way to go about it.

Written by Ramona Sinha. October 6, 2025

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.