Walk Score has surveyed 2,508 neighborhoods across the 40 biggest U.S. cities to come up with their list of the best places to live if you want to ditch your car. Nearby stores, restaurants, schools, and parks all boost a city's rank.

There are some definite surprises that made the list, especially So Cal's offerings. While L.A. and Long Beach may have small neighborhoods that make for nice walking and ample provisions, the site does not take into account factors such as the availability of mass transit, the nature of commutes, and the sprawl that may surround some of these walkable oases.

Walk Score's top-10 cities, with most walkable neighborhoods:

1 San Francisco Chinatown, Financial District, Downtown
2 New York Tribeca, Little Italy, Soho
3 Boston Back Bay-Beacon Hill, South End, Fenway-Kenmore
4 Chicago Loop, Near North Side, Lincoln Park
5 Philadelphia City Center East, City Center West, Riverfront
6 Seattle Pioneer Square, Downtown, First Hill
7 Washington D.C. Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Downtown
8 Long Beach Downtown, Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights
9 Los Angeles Mid City West, Downtown, Hollywood
10 Portland Pearl District, Old Town-Chinatown, Downtown

Would-be carectomy patients can plug in their addresses or scope out any locale in the country on the Walk Score website. The country's sprawling suburbs have already begun to die and people are looking for denser, more sustainable venues. Walk Score is a great way to scout out the areas around potential new homes.

Walk Score is a project run by Front Seat with input from The Sightline Institute, The Brookings Institution, and Google.

See also Where to Live Now that Gas Prices are Crazy for some overlap as well as divergence.

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