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 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.

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
20002006-102011-152016-20
United States10%9%9%8%
Massachusetts13%12%13%12%
Region10%10%10%10%
Middlesex County11%11%11%11%
Norfolk County9%9%9%9%
Worcester County10%8%9%9%
Acton town, Middlesex County3%4%**4%**3%**
Ashland town, Middlesex County3%2%***2%***4%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County5%4%**6%*4%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County3%2%***2%**4%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County1%1%***1%***2%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County3%1%***1%***1%***
Concord town, Middlesex County3%7%*6%*5%**
Dedham town, Norfolk County6%7%*7%*7%*
Dover town, Norfolk County0%1%***1%***0%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County8%10%9%11%
Franklin town, Norfolk County3%**6%*3%**
Groton town, Middlesex County3%3%***3%**5%**
Harvard town, Worcester County1%1%***1%***0%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County3%3%***3%**3%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County2%1%***2%***1%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County8%5%*4%**4%**
Lexington town, Middlesex County5%4%*5%*4%*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County3%2%***4%***8%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County4%6%***4%***2%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County8%11%7%*8%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County6%6%***4%***4%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County3%5%***2%***2%***
Medway town, Norfolk County4%5%**3%***4%***
Milford town, Worcester County8%6%*8%*7%*
Millis town, Norfolk County4%2%***1%***2%***
Natick town, Middlesex County5%5%*6%*5%*
Needham town, Norfolk County6%6%*4%*6%**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County1%2%***1%***1%***
Southborough town, Worcester County2%1%***2%***2%***
Stow town, Middlesex County3%1%***3%***1%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County2%2%**2%***3%**
Walpole town, Norfolk County5%4%**6%*5%***
Waltham city, Middlesex County10%8%11%7%
Wayland town, Middlesex County3%3%***6%*4%**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County4%5%**3%*5%*
Westborough town, Worcester County6%6%*6%*7%*
Westford town, Middlesex County2%1%***1%***2%**
Weston town, Middlesex County3%3%***3%***3%***
Westwood town, Norfolk County6%7%*6%**3%**

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
20002006-102011-152016-20
United States10,861,06710,113,26610,628,47410,344,521
Massachusetts311,079307,472319,603323,461
Region108,843110,460112,177118,054
Middlesex County59,07061,55161,78664,294
Norfolk County22,01723,63923,60724,887
Worcester County27,75625,27026,78428,873
Acton town, Middlesex County234308**322**283**
Ashland town, Middlesex County158116***149***263***
Bedford town, Middlesex County215194**298*223***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County141128***150**258***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County2620***17***56***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County4517***18***12***
Concord town, Middlesex County150447*398*307**
Dedham town, Norfolk County529620*670*747*
Dover town, Norfolk County922***16***10***
Framingham city, Middlesex County2,0312,6472,4463,050
Franklin town, Norfolk County370**702*434**
Groton town, Middlesex County108110***110**197**
Harvard town, Worcester County2026***21***7***
Holliston town, Middlesex County143137***148**165***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County10342***126***62***
Hudson town, Middlesex County535402*320**344**
Lexington town, Middlesex County563436*593*487*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County7042***93***216***
Littleton town, Middlesex County118184***151***56***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County1,0991,6531,147*1,283*
Maynard town, Middlesex County241249***190***166***
Medfield town, Norfolk County131195***101***96***
Medway town, Norfolk County181207**136***178***
Milford town, Worcester County811598*915*768*
Millis town, Norfolk County12347***27***68***
Natick town, Middlesex County701698*855*687*
Needham town, Norfolk County635645*475*685**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County2128***17***16***
Southborough town, Worcester County7235***67***67***
Stow town, Middlesex County5813***86***32***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County121138**123***178**
Walpole town, Norfolk County386326**497*399***
Waltham city, Middlesex County2,4321,7932,6121,617
Wayland town, Middlesex County116147***284*165**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County314408**297*392*
Westborough town, Worcester County406419*412*453*
Westford town, Middlesex County152103***85***152**
Weston town, Middlesex County124105***129***109***
Westwood town, Norfolk County317343*317**179**

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 Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning 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
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Maintaining
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
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
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
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 Increasing
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
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, 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
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, 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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