The Burrow
Feb 10, 2026
From rooftop gardens to riverside trails, locations around the world are being reimagined through a greener lens. Today’s buyers increasingly prioritise the best cities for nature lovers, with vibrant outdoor cultures and the long-term health benefits associated with green cities. This growing demand for nature-friendly cities is reshaping the housing market.
As home loan experts, the team at Compare the Market have taken a walk through the data to find which cities have the best intersection of urban living and the natural world.
We’ve created a Nature Lovers Index that ranks the leading cities across Australia, Europe and the US. Our index considers major cities using eight environmental and lifestyle metrics, with each factor normalised to a score out of 100 and combined into an overall average score. The results rank a wide range of cities from highest to lowest, offering insight into cities best for outdoor living.
From forest-lined trails to waterfront parks and rich urban biodiversity, these US cities lead the way for residents seeking a closer connection to nature. Together, they stand out as some of the best cities for nature lovers, combining green infrastructure, outdoor access and environmental quality.
Miami takes the top spot in the US for nature lovers. With 215 parks and an impressive 89% of residents living within ten minutes of a park, Miami offers great accessibility to green spaces. The city also boasts a high number of walking routes (86) and biodiversity observations (602,156), making it a haven for outdoor activities.
Surrounded by water, forests and mountain ranges, Seattle excels for park accessibility and environmental quality. An impressive 99% of residents live within a ten-minute walk of a green space, supported by an impressive 331 parks across the city. Seattle also performs strongly for biodiversity, with almost 556,000 recorded species observations. These eco-friendly strengths position it as one of the USA’s standout green cities, where urban life blends seamlessly with the outdoors.
Portland ranks third on the list thanks to its exceptional balance of trail access, biodiversity and park provision. The city boasts 292 walking routes and one of the highest densities at 45.6 per 100,000 residents, making it ideal for everyday outdoor exploration. It also recorded over 774,000 biodiversity observations, which is equivalent to 120,822 per 100,000 people, underlining its ecological richness. With 90% of residents living within ten minutes of a park, Portland firmly earns its place among America’s top cities for outdoor living.
San Francisco’s wealth of green space and environmental quality make it a standout city for nature lovers. With 296 walking routes and 331 parks, the city’s access to nature is impressive. San Francisco’s air quality and biodiversity levels further enhance its position as a prime location for outdoor living.
Pittsburgh’s appeal lies in its strong trail network and improving air quality, making it an increasingly attractive option for outdoor-focused living. The city offers 108 walking routes and an Air Quality Index of 6.2, both of which support healthy outdoor activity. With more than 146,000 biodiversity observations and 94% of residents living within easy reach of a park, Pittsburgh continues to emerge as one of the best cities for nature lovers in the US.
Europe’s leading urban centres show how dense cities can still deliver exceptional access to green space, biodiversity and outdoor living. These five locations are the best cities for nature lovers, combining park access, walking routes and environmental quality to support healthier lifestyles.
Helsinki leads the European ranking with an outstanding balance of nature and clean air. Over a third of the city (34%) is classified as green space, supported by 90 parks and more than 6,900 recorded species. Its exceptionally high biodiversity observation rate (17,532 per 100,000 residents) highlights the richness of its natural environment, while low pollution levels strengthen its appeal as one of Europe’s leading green cities.
Built across islands and waterways, Stockholm combines urban living with extensive access to nature. The city offers 259 walking routes and 86 parks, alongside strong air quality and some of the lowest PM2.5 levels in the ranking (5.2). With more than a quarter of the city (26.8%) dedicated to green space, Stockholm stands out among the cities with the most green space and remains a flagship example of sustainable urban planning.
Leeds performs strongly for natural coverage, with an impressive 41.9% of the city classified as green, which is one of the highest proportions in the European ranking. Its walking route density (16 per 100,000 residents) is also among the strongest, supporting active lifestyles. Combined with a growing network of parks and nature corridors, Leeds is at the top of the UK’s best cities for nature lovers.
Zaragoza’s strength lies in its exceptional outdoor space provision. More than half of the city (50.6%) is dedicated to green areas, which is the highest of the 44 European cities in our ranking. While its number of parks (2.8) is lower than northern rivals, the extensive urban greenery provides cooling benefits and strong recreational access, reinforcing Zaragoza’s status as one of southern Europe’s most distinctive nature-friendly cities.
Dublin offers 239 walking routes and 86 parks spread throughout the city. With one of the highest walking route densities in the ranking (18.6 per 100,000) and consistently good air quality (AQI 5.7), the Irish capital delivers reliable everyday access to outdoor spaces. These strengths place it firmly among Europe’s leading green cities, where urban life and nature remain closely connected.
With its vast landscapes, unique wildlife and deeply ingrained outdoor culture, Australia performs strongly for nature access across many of its cities. High levels of biodiversity, generous parkland allocation and a lifestyle built around beaches, bushland and open skies continue to shape where people choose to live. These top-ranking locations are among the best cities for nature lovers, offering easy connections to nature that appeal strongly to lifestyle-led home buyers.
Hobart leads Australia’s ranking thanks to its exceptional balance of trail access, biodiversity and park provision. The city has 205 walking routes and one of the highest densities at 94.5 per 100,000 residents. It also recorded nearly 60,000 biodiversity observations (equivalent to 27,550 per 100,000 people), highlighting Tasmania’s rich natural environment. With 73 parks and outstanding air quality (AQI 4.2), Hobart firmly earns its place among Australia’s leading nature-friendly cities.
Brisbane’s subtropical climate and outdoor culture underpin its strong performance. The city boasts an extensive trail network with 522 walking routes and more than 607,000 biodiversity observations, reflecting one of the richest urban ecosystems in the country. With over 250 parks and 18% green space coverage, Brisbane continues to rank highly in Australia’s cities with the most green space.
Few cities combine urban living and outdoor adventure quite like the Gold Coast. Supported by 174 parks and more than 182,000 biodiversity observations, the city benefits from direct access to beaches, hinterland rainforests and coastal reserves. Add in very strong air quality (AQI 2.8) and the city rightly deserves its status as one of Australia’s most lifestyle-driven green cities.
Purpose-built with nature in mind, Canberra delivers a strong outdoor network, with 72 parks and nearly 20 per 100,000 residents. Surrounded by reserves, lakes and national parkland, the city also records high biodiversity levels (18,882 observations per 100,000 residents). These strengths make Canberra stand out among the country’s best cities for nature lovers, particularly for buyers seeking space, clean air and everyday outdoor access.
Townsville’s appeal lies in its proximity to some of Australia’s most iconic natural environments. While smaller in scale, the city recorded more than 7,500 biodiversity observations and benefits from direct access to coastal wetlands, reef systems and tropical parklands. With 26 parks and low NO2 levels (3.5), Townsville continues to build its reputation as an emerging nature-friendly city for northern Queensland.
Living close to nature offers far more than scenic views. In numerous studies, access to green space has been linked to improved mental wellbeing, higher physical activity levels, stronger community connections and better air quality.
As priorities shift, proximity to parks, trails and open spaces is becoming a key factor in housing decisions. This means that more buyers are actively seeking truly nature-friendly cities that support healthier, more balanced lifestyles.
Stephen Zeller, General Manager of Money at Compare the Market, says:
“While nature is often associated with rural living, it’s clear that urban areas are now prioritizing green spaces to meet the growing demand for a balanced lifestyle.”
“When considering home loans, today’s home buyers are looking for neighbourhoods that support wellbeing, outdoor living and cleaner air, not just affordability and location. By comparing home loans, you can look at saving money on interest and getting features to give you increased flexibility, helping you buy in areas that offer the perfect mix of nature and convenience.”
This dataset ranks the largest cities across the UK, US and Australia across 8 metrics that measure how good each city is for Nature Lovers. Each factor’s data was collected and normalised to a score between 0 and 100. If data was missing, a score of 0 was given. These scores were then combined to give each city an average score out of 100, and cities were ranked from highest to lowest. The rankings were broken down by country to give three individual indexes.
Index rules – the higher the score, the ‘better’ the city is for nature lovers.
The index metrics used are shown in the table below. Two sources were used for % Green Space for both Australia and Europe, whilst % of the population within 10min of a park was used for the US and not the other cities.
All data is accurate as of 09/01/26 and comes from multiple sources. Rankings reflect these sources but may not capture every real-life detail.
Sources:
All data is accurate as of 09/01/26 and comes from multiple sources. Rankings reflect these sources but may not capture every real-life detail.
A previous article covering data for 2025 can be viewed here.