A survey by the Puget Sound Regional Council shows that central Seattle residents (that's folks living south of the Ship Canal and north of I-90) favor a more walkable neighborhood with a short commute over affordability. As The Seattle Times reports, a lot of people share this preference: 70 percent of respondents said they'd spend more on rent or mortgage payments for a walkable nabe. That's 19 percent more than those who opted for some extra cash in their pockets.
This was not the case in less urban and affluent Snohomish and south King counties where 66 percent of poll respondents went for affordability over walkability.
Speaking of affordability, even perfect Portland is feeling the pressure of rising housing costs. The median price of a home in the Rose City is about $310,000. That's a 3.4 percent jump since last year, and there's no signs of a slow down. If Northwest housing prices continue to soar, will the preference for walkability over affordability persist?
