NAR 2026 Community and Transportation Preferences Survey

The National Association of REALTORS®' Community and Transportation Preference Survey is a nationally representative survey conducted every three years to better understand how Americans want to live, work, and move through their communities. The survey explores consumer preferences related to housing, transportation, community design, and smart growth, providing valuable insights into the features and amenities people value most from walkable neighborhoods and housing choice to convenient access to jobs, schools, parks, shopping, and transportation options. The findings help REALTORS®, REALTOR associations, local leaders, planners, and policymakers make data-informed decisions that support vibrant, resilient communities and address evolving housing and community development needs.

A national poll conducted in May 2026 of 2,000 adults in the fifty-largest metro areas found that Americans continue to place a high value on walkable, mixed-use communities and access to a variety of housing choices. The survey found that sidewalks, parks, shops, restaurants, and other nearby destinations remain important considerations when deciding where to live. Nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated they would be willing to pay more to live in a walkable community, and a majority preferred a smaller lot in a walkable neighborhood over a larger homesite requiring more driving. The survey also found broad support for community design that reduces dependence on long driving trips and expands housing options, including small-lot single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes.

For more information, please contact:

Alex Haddad 
Manager, Community Development Advocacy 
National Association of REALTORS® 
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW 
Washington, DC 20001 
E-mail: ahaddad@nar.realtor