Smart Growth America ranked Atlantic County as the nation’s 3rd most compact, connected metro area in 2014.
Most compact, connected metro areas
| Rank | Metro Area | Index Score |
| 1 | New York / White Plains / Wayne, NY-NJ | 203.4 |
| 2 | San Francisco / San Mateo / Redwood City, CA | 194.3 |
| 3 | Atlantic City / Hammonton, NJ | 150.4 |
| 4 | Santa Barbara / Santa Maria / Goleta, CA | 146.6 |
| 5 | Champaign / Urbana, IL | 145.2 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz/Watsonville, CA | 145.0 |
| 7 | Trenton/Ewing, NJ | 144.7 |
| 8 | Miami/Miami Beach/Kendall, FL | 144.1 |
| 9 | Springfield, IL | 142.2 |
| 10 | Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine, CA | 139.9 |
Why is this important?
- People have greater economic opportunity in compact and connected metro areas.
- People spend less of their household income on the combined cost of housing and transportation in these areas.
- People have a greater number of transportation options available to them.
- And people in compact, connected metro areas tend to be safer, healthier and live longer than their peers in more sprawling metro areas.
The nation’s most compact, connected metro areas are comprised of walkable neighborhoods.
Walkability means being near the people and places you love. It’s about great neighborhoods and having a variety of transportation choices for getting around your city. It’s about having a shorter or more enjoyable commute.
The Atlantic County towns of Absecon, Atlantic City, Egg Harbor City, Northfield, Somers Point, Margate, Ventnor all have walkable neighborhoods.
In Atlantic City, for example, there are approximately 256 restaurants, bars and coffee shops. An average of 7 restaurants, bars and coffee shops are within a five minute walk.