A vehicle makes it easier for people to work and to conduct daily business such as doctor's visits and shopping. Ready access to transportation can also make it simpler to be involved in schools, religious organizations, and other forms of civic life. While a vehicle can be an asset, repairs and insurance costs also can be a financial burden. Vehicle access is less critical in areas with robust public transportation, and some urban residents choose transit, cycling and walking over car ownership.

In 2016-20, 10% of households in MetroWest did not have access to a vehicle. This was slightly lower than the state rate of 12% and similar to the national rate of 8%. Rates in MetroWest, Massachusetts and across the country have remained steady since 2000.

The percentage of households without vehicles was similar across Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester counties. In Framingham and Waltham, 11% and 7% respectively of households lacked vehicles. For comparison, 33% of households had no vehicle in Boston. In most other MetroWest communities, the sample size was too small to make reliable comparisons.

The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are expected to be released annually in December.