Which statement about density gradients and urban form is most accurate?

• A. Density near the center is irrelevant to transit.
• B. Density is uniform across the city.
• C. Density gradient refers to the distribution of parks within a city.
• D. Density gradient describes how density changes from urban core to periphery, typically higher density near the center.

Answer: (D)

Density gradients describe how density changes from the urban core toward the periphery, with density typically higher near the center. This pattern reflects how cities develop: land is scarce and valuable in the center, so buildings tend to be taller and land uses are more intensive, creating a concentrated population and activity hub. As you move outward, parcels usually become larger and development becomes less dense, leading to more single-family housing and open space. That gradient matters for urban form because it shapes how streets, services, and amenities are distributed, and it drives transit planning—high-density centers support frequent, efficient transit, while lower-density outer areas influence the mode and frequency of service. The other statements miss what density gradient is about: density near the center is not irrelevant to transit; density is not uniform across a city; and the gradient is not about parks, but about the concentration of people and built form changing from center to edge.