The long-running debate about the ideal city size may have an answer.
A new study by the Monash Institute of Transport Studies, published in npj Urban Sustainability, has pinpointed the “magic number” where liveability and sustainability peak.
Analysing 655 Australian cities, researchers found that sustainability is maximised when a city’s population sits within 4% of its ideal capacity—the point where housing, jobs, transport and services operate in balance.
The benefits are clear.
Cities within this range saved renters an average of $1,560 (£750) a year,
In addition, 44,000 more people could walk to work daily,and 275,000 households could reduce their dependence on cars.
Australian cities like Perth and smaller centres such as Port Pirie are operating close to their optimal size, while Melbourne and the Gold Coast are stretched beyond capacity, creating risks of higher costs and infrastructure pressure.
Smaller towns tended to enjoy lower rents and more walking to work but relied more heavily on cars. Mid-sized cities often had good train access but remained relatively isolated.
Lead author Associate Professor Liton Kamruzzaman explained: “When a city grows too big, the signs are clear; longer commutes, traffic jams, soaring rents and overcrowded services. But when it’s too small, valuable infrastructure and opportunities go to waste.”
He said the findings should help guide both the design of new cities and the recalibration of existing ones through targeted policies.
This study shows it’s not about being large or small. It’s about whether a city’s population matches what its systems can handle. That’s the key to sustainability.”
Goldilocks style ‘just right’ size for sustainable cities appeared first on Energy Live News.