The Midwest has a reputation for wide-open spaces and driveway-dependent living, but a new roundup makes the case that you can comfortably retire there on foot. The key, according to research drawing on WalkScore, Close.city and SafeStreets data plus local insight, is picking the right city — and often the right neighbourhood within it. Downtown districts and university towns come out on top, with nine standouts from Illinois to Wisconsin.

Chicago leads the pack. With the CTA's elevated "L" loop and more than 40 bus routes, plus walkable neighbourhoods like Lincoln Park, Old Town and Oak Park, giving up the car barely registers as a sacrifice. Seniors get discounted admission at the Art Institute — just $14 for residents — and museums offer free days throughout the year. Add the Lakeshore Trail along Lake Michigan and a dining scene running from deep-dish pizza to ketchup-free Chicago dogs, and there's plenty to fill a retirement calendar.

Minneapolis offers a smaller-scale alternative with big-city infrastructure. The downtown and adjacent areas like Loring Park and the Mill District are easy on foot, and the Stone Arch Bridge links you across the Mississippi to trails and parks. Metro Transit's light rail and buses connect the Twin Cities, and Saint Paul sits on Amtrak's Borealis route to Chicago — handy for car-free visits to family or weekend trips.

University towns punch above their weight for car-free retirees. Ann Arbor, Michigan, pairs a walkable downtown with the 43-mile Border 2 Border Trail, botanical gardens and a senior centre running everything from group walks to a "Weekly Mingle." Madison, Wisconsin, earns its "biking capital of the Midwest" nickname with lakeside paths between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, the State Street pedestrian corridor linking the capitol to campus, and a senior centre offering fitness classes and walking-stick woodworking.

St. Louis rounds out the southern end of the list with a milder winter than its northern neighbours. Downtown's compact grid puts the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium within walking distance, while the Central West End packs housing, groceries and restaurants into one neighbourhood. Metro's light rail and the Via Metro STL on-demand ride app fill in the gaps.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, offers a free downtown streetcar called The Hop, a 3.1-mile accessible RiverWalk lined with restaurants, and lakefront attractions like the Milwaukee Art Museum and Lakeshore State Park.

For anyone planning a retirement that doesn't revolve around driving, the practical takeaway is clear: the Midwest can work, but location within the city matters as much as the city itself. Neighbourhoods near downtowns, campuses and transit lines deliver walkability, culture and social infrastructure — senior centres, farmers markets, museums — that suburban townships generally don't. Choosing one of these cities could mean saving thousands a year on car ownership while staying more active and connected.