The Down.Town Index 2026
42 downtowns scored on eight things that decide daily life: walkability, transit, food, nightlife, culture, family life, business climate and value. Sort by what matters to you.
| # | Downtown | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo Asia-Pacific | 88 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| 2 | Seoul Asia-Pacific | 86 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| 3 | Berlin Europe | 86 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| 4 | London Europe | 85 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 5 | Barcelona Europe | 84 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| 6 | Paris Europe | 84 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| 7 | Mexico City Latin America | 83 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Chicago North America | 83 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 5 |
| 9 | Hong Kong Asia-Pacific | 82 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 10 | Singapore Asia-Pacific | 82 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 3 |
| 11 | New York North America | 82 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 12 | Melbourne Asia-Pacific | 80 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| 13 | Amsterdam Europe | 80 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
| 14 | Montréal North America | 80 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 15 | Philadelphia North America | 79 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 16 | Lisbon Europe | 78 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 17 | Toronto North America | 78 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 18 | Washington, D.C. North America | 76 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
| 19 | Seattle North America | 76 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 20 | San Francisco North America | 76 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| 21 | Dublin Europe | 75 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| 22 | Boston North America | 75 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| 23 | Mumbai South Asia | 74 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| 24 | Sydney Asia-Pacific | 74 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
| 25 | Bengaluru South Asia | 71 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| 26 | Ottawa North America | 71 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 27 | Minneapolis North America | 71 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| 28 | Cape Town Middle East & Africa | 71 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| 29 | Vancouver North America | 71 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| 30 | Calgary North America | 69 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| 31 | San Diego North America | 69 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 32 | Houston North America | 69 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
| 33 | Los Angeles North America | 69 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| 34 | Dubai Middle East & Africa | 69 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
| 35 | Denver North America | 69 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| 36 | Portland North America | 68 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 37 | Nashville North America | 68 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| 38 | Dallas North America | 68 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| 39 | Austin North America | 68 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| 40 | Miami North America | 67 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| 41 | Atlanta North America | 66 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 42 | Phoenix North America | 63 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Press a column heading to sort. Higher is better in every column, including value (higher = more affordable).
How the Index works
Each downtown receives an editorial score from 1 to 10 in eight categories. Scores are assigned by Down.Town editors after reviewing transit maps and service patterns, the density of amenities within walking distance of the core, cultural institutions, the business environment and the relative cost of housing and daily life. They are judgements, not official statistics, and they compare city centres with each other rather than with an absolute standard.
The overall Index is a weighted average, scaled to 100. Weights: walk ×1.2, transit ×1.2, food ×1.0, night ×0.8, culture ×1.0, family ×0.8, business ×1.0, value ×1.0. Walkability and transit carry slightly more weight because they shape daily life in a downtown more than any other factor.
We review scores at least once a year and whenever a major change — a new transit line, a large rezoning, a sharp change in housing costs — shifts the picture. Disagree with a score? Tell us why; good evidence from readers can change a score.
Embed the Index badge
City offices, business associations and tourism boards may display their city's Index score with a link back to its guide. Request the badge code.