Understanding the determinants of people’s perception of whether they reside in 15-minute neighborhoods: Evidence from a university population in Canada

In recent years, the 15-minute city (15MC) concept has gained traction in academic discourse and urban policy. While numerous studies have examined its strengths and limitations, assessed travel behaviors, and tracked global policy uptake, few have investigated the factors shaping individuals’ perceptions of whether they reside in a 15-minute neighborhood (15MN). This study addresses that gap by exploring the determinants of perceived 15MN residency, identifying which sets of local destinations are most influential, and comparing the effectiveness of binary versus count-based access measures. Using principal component analysis and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression, the study analyzes survey data collected in 2024 from University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada (n = 1,466). The findings reveal that perceptions of living in a 15MN are not significantly associated with people’s socioeconomic characteristics or prior knowledge of the concept. Instead, they are strongly influenced by objective access measures and other subjective perceptions. Access to elementary and secondary schools, grocery stores, transit services, and proximity between home and work emerged as key factors. Using count-based access measures within a 1,200-meter radius, while outperforming binary access measures, revealed that having more than one opportunity of the same type played a role in influencing perceptions. Access to more grocery stores, transit options, and schools was positively associated with perceptions of living in a 15MN. These results provide valuable insights for urban planners working to advance 15MC principles by highlighting destinations most closely associated with public perception, enabling the development of more responsive resident–centered urban policies.