The folks behind Walk Score have introduced a new iPhone application, which uses the phone's GPS functionality to automatically generate a score based on the user's location.

The free app -- released last month by Seattle's civic software organization Front Seat -- is pretty straightforward. Like the Web site, the Walk Score app uses a patent-pending algorithm to determine how walkable your location is. It scores locations based on proximity to schools, parks, restaurants and stores -- assigning a score of 0 to 100.

My Seattle home scores an 86, which is considered "very walkable." Meanwhile, my childhood home in Ohio receives a 23, which is considered "car dependent."

You can see the country's most walkable neighborhoods here.

The iPhone app is yet another tool that potential home buyers can use when considering a new home. In fact, most of the reviews of the Walk Score app suggest that's how people are using it so far, though because it also shows nearby restaurants, parks and stores it also could turn into a helpful neighborhood guide of sorts.

[Hat tip to Drew Myers]