Community Life
Households Without Vehicles

Maintaining


Households without Vehicles

What does this measure?

The number of households which do not report having a vehicle kept at the home, available for use, expressed as a percentage of all households.

Why is this important?

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.

How is our region doing?

In 2018-22, 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 2008-12.

The percentage of households without vehicles was similar across Norfolk and Worcester counties, and slightly higher in Middlesex. In Framingham and Waltham, 9% and 8%, respectively, of households lacked vehicles. For comparison, 34% of households had no vehicle in Boston. In most other MetroWest communities, the sample size was too small to make reliable comparisons.

Notes about the data

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.

Households without Vehicles
2008-122013-172018-22
United States9%9%8%
Massachusetts12%12%12%
Region10%10%10%
Middlesex County11%10%10%
Norfolk County9%9%9%
Worcester County9%9%9%
Acton town, Middlesex County4%*3%**4%*
Ashland town, Middlesex County2%***2%***5%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County5%*4%**6%**
Bellingham town, Norfolk County2%***3%**2%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County2%***2%***4%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County1%***2%***0%***
Concord town, Middlesex County7%*5%**5%**
Dedham town, Norfolk County7%*8%*8%*
Dover town, Norfolk County1%***1%***2%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County10%10%9%
Franklin town, Norfolk County5%**5%*3%**
Groton town, Middlesex County3%***3%***4%***
Harvard town, Worcester County0%***1%***3%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County2%***4%**4%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County1%***2%***2%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County5%*5%*4%*
Lexington town, Middlesex County4%*5%*4%*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County1%***6%***7%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County4%***4%**1%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County10%*6%*9%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County5%***5%***5%**
Medfield town, Norfolk County5%***2%***3%***
Medway town, Norfolk County4%***2%***5%***
Milford town, Worcester County7%*6%*8%*
Millis town, Norfolk County0%***2%***2%***
Natick town, Middlesex County6%*5%*7%*
Needham town, Norfolk County5%*5%*6%**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County2%***1%***2%***
Southborough town, Worcester County2%***2%***2%***
Stow town, Middlesex County2%***3%***3%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County3%**3%***2%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County5%**5%*5%**
Waltham city, Middlesex County9%9%8%
Wayland town, Middlesex County4%**5%*3%**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County4%**4%*4%*
Westborough town, Worcester County7%*6%*6%*
Westford town, Middlesex County1%***1%***2%***
Weston town, Middlesex County3%***5%**2%***
Westwood town, Norfolk County6%*5%**4%**

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Number of Households without Vehicles
2008-122013-172018-22
United States10,405,37510,468,41810,474,870
Massachusetts315,710320,661327,076
Region111,670114,384120,095
Middlesex County61,64462,31866,004
Norfolk County23,82024,10025,493
Worcester County26,20627,96628,598
Acton town, Middlesex County322*298**323*
Ashland town, Middlesex County154***145***370***
Bedford town, Middlesex County255*210**343**
Bellingham town, Norfolk County121***185**135***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County38***35***85***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County9***27***0***
Concord town, Middlesex County468*320**328**
Dedham town, Norfolk County680*812*816*
Dover town, Norfolk County22***18***30***
Framingham city, Middlesex County2,6162,6762,531
Franklin town, Norfolk County500**577*408**
Groton town, Middlesex County99***129***141***
Harvard town, Worcester County9***20***53***
Holliston town, Middlesex County112***193**209***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County61***106***140***
Hudson town, Middlesex County423*374*334*
Lexington town, Middlesex County513*553*533*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County33***157***171***
Littleton town, Middlesex County144***147**26***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County1,582*864*1,490*
Maynard town, Middlesex County214***196***208**
Medfield town, Norfolk County201***104***124***
Medway town, Norfolk County159***112***220***
Milford town, Worcester County737*692*957*
Millis town, Norfolk County0***55***52***
Natick town, Middlesex County810*710*1,032*
Needham town, Norfolk County511*531*704**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County35***9***23***
Southborough town, Worcester County60***61***83***
Stow town, Middlesex County48***73***72***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County162**156***146***
Walpole town, Norfolk County395**466*434**
Waltham city, Middlesex County2,0332,1481,975
Wayland town, Middlesex County190**238*166**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County336**384*388*
Westborough town, Worcester County515*401*459*
Westford town, Middlesex County59***80***174***
Weston town, Middlesex County124***204**83***
Westwood town, Norfolk County333*288**193**

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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