Neighborhood walkability, concentrated disadvantage, and the spatial distribution of crime

Source abstract

Neighborhood walkability, including neighborhood density and access to amenities, may offer numerous social and health benefits. Previous research, however, has produced mixed findings regarding the associations between neighborhood walkability and crime rates. Using a harmonized dataset combining administrative databases on crime rates and demographics with estimates of walkability from 2021 to 2023, this study examines the linear and nonlinear associations between neighborhood walkability and crime rates and the moderating role of neighborhood concentrated disadvantage, across block groups in New Orleans (n = 431). We observed that robbery, aggravated assault, general theft, and motor vehicle theft had significant nonlinear associations with walkability; however, burglary was not significantly associated with walkability. Furthermore, neighborhood concentrated disadvantage moderates these associations, with high walkability having a net protective impact in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood blocks. Results suggest that the walkability-crime relationship is generally nonlinear and conditional on crime types and neighborhood characteristics. Improving neighborhood walkability may be an important intervention target to reduce crime in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.