Community Life
Means of Transportation to Work

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Means of Transportation to Work, 2016-20

What does this measure?

The type of transportation used on a daily basis by workers over the age of 16 who commute to work, expressed as a percentage of all workers who do not work at home.

Why is this important?

Patterns of transportation usage impact environmental and transportation planning. These patterns may also reflect issues of poverty, location of employment, the availability and quality of public transit, local land use and environmental policies, or lifestyle choices of residents.

How is our region doing?

The majority of commuters in MetroWest drove alone to work in 2016-20 (75%), followed by 10% who used public transportation, 8% who carpooled, and 7% who biked, walked, or used other means. The region was similar to Massachusetts as a whole. The U.S. had a smaller share of residents who used public transportation (5%) and a larger share who drove to work alone (81%). Since 2000, there has been a three percentage point decline in the share of commuters in the region driving alone to work.

In 2016-20, Middlesex and Norfolk had slightly smaller percentages of commuters who drove to work alone (71% and 72%, respectively) than the region as a whole, while Worcester was higher, at 84%. Norfolk had the highest share of transit users (15%). Just 2% of Worcester County commuters used public transportation.

In Framingham, 80% of commuters were driving alone to work and 7% carpooling with just 4% using public transportation. In Natick, 79% drove alone, compared to 72% in Waltham.

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.

Means of Transportation to Work, 2016-20
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States10%81%5%5%
Massachusetts8%74%10%8%
Region8%75%10%7%
Middlesex County7%71%13%8%
Norfolk County7%72%15%6%
Worcester County8%84%2%5%
Acton town, Middlesex County6%*85%7%*2%**
Ashland town, Middlesex County6%*82%9%*2%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County10%**86%2%***2%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County6%*89%2%**2%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County4%***88%6%**2%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County6%***86%6%**1%***
Concord town, Middlesex County7%**80%8%*4%**
Dedham town, Norfolk County7%**77%10%6%*
Dover town, Norfolk County4%***84%8%**4%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County7%80%4%8%*
Franklin town, Norfolk County5%**87%5%*3%*
Groton town, Middlesex County10%**86%3%**0%***
Harvard town, Worcester County7%***84%7%***2%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County6%*87%5%*2%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County5%*88%5%*2%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County8%*87%2%***3%***
Lexington town, Middlesex County6%*81%8%*5%*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County7%***81%7%***5%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County6%***87%4%**3%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County10%*84%1%***5%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County6%***92%1%***0%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County6%**81%11%*3%***
Medway town, Norfolk County5%**90%3%**2%***
Milford town, Worcester County10%*83%2%**6%**
Millis town, Norfolk County7%***87%5%**2%***
Natick town, Middlesex County6%*79%11%3%**
Needham town, Norfolk County4%**76%15%4%*
Sherborn town, Middlesex County4%***77%16%**4%***
Southborough town, Worcester County7%**85%5%**3%***
Stow town, Middlesex County5%***91%2%***2%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County5%**87%5%**3%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County9%**79%11%*2%***
Waltham city, Middlesex County12%*72%7%10%
Wayland town, Middlesex County8%*85%5%*3%***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County9%*64%10%17%
Westborough town, Worcester County8%*83%5%**4%*
Westford town, Middlesex County4%*91%5%*1%***
Weston town, Middlesex County5%**82%7%*6%***
Westwood town, Norfolk County6%**78%15%*1%***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percent of those who do not work at home. 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 Workers by Means of Transportation, 2016-20
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States13,605,122115,127,7207,044,8866,734,831
Massachusetts257,3792,410,716337,729245,642
Region113,8861,122,467156,909105,803
Middlesex County58,254560,30499,70466,488
Norfolk County23,156238,70349,42219,676
Worcester County32,476323,4607,78319,639
Acton town, Middlesex County588*8,830735*213**
Ashland town, Middlesex County587*7,788851*225***
Bedford town, Middlesex County568**5,00299***142***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County556*7,678205**198***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County129***2,572162**45***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County129***1,756125**29***
Concord town, Middlesex County477**5,266510*289**
Dedham town, Norfolk County907**9,9671,329754*
Dover town, Norfolk County76***1,665163**70***
Framingham city, Middlesex County2,64228,8731,5643,019*
Franklin town, Norfolk County778**14,098848*492*
Groton town, Middlesex County479**4,249168**22***
Harvard town, Worcester County140***1,775153***46***
Holliston town, Middlesex County423*6,133319*140***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County436*7,206409*162***
Hudson town, Middlesex County756*8,286184***310***
Lexington town, Middlesex County889*11,0411,058*726*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County178***1,954169***116***
Littleton town, Middlesex County263***3,979183**135***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County1,935*16,712253***1,073*
Maynard town, Middlesex County346***4,95761***25***
Medfield town, Norfolk County278**4,068559*138***
Medway town, Norfolk County350**5,861212**114***
Milford town, Worcester County1,468*12,206288**813**
Millis town, Norfolk County275***3,351178**59***
Natick town, Middlesex County1,127*13,7191,971522**
Needham town, Norfolk County562**9,6461,851562*
Sherborn town, Middlesex County65***1,388286**73***
Southborough town, Worcester County324**3,951249**118***
Stow town, Middlesex County149***2,85655***69***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County412**6,695375**216***
Walpole town, Norfolk County992**8,7421,195*169***
Waltham city, Middlesex County3,958*24,1912,2383,389
Wayland town, Middlesex County453*4,919269*172***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County915*6,6141,0681,729
Westborough town, Worcester County662*7,111428**367*
Westford town, Middlesex County447*10,208508*67***
Weston town, Middlesex County181**3,151260*240***
Westwood town, Norfolk County389**5,3681,062*53***

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%.




Means of Transportation to Work, 2000
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States13%78%5%4%
Massachusetts9%76%9%6%
Region9%78%9%5%
Middlesex County8%75%11%6%
Norfolk County8%76%13%4%
Worcester County10%85%2%4%
Acton town, Middlesex County8%86%5%2%
Ashland town, Middlesex County6%88%5%1%
Bedford town, Middlesex County6%89%2%3%
Bellingham town, Norfolk County8%87%3%2%
Boxborough town, Middlesex County6%90%3%1%
Carlisle town, Middlesex County5%90%3%2%
Concord town, Middlesex County6%85%6%4%
Dedham town, Norfolk County6%81%9%3%
Dover town, Norfolk County4%86%8%2%
Framingham city, Middlesex County12%80%5%4%
Groton town, Middlesex County5%88%2%4%
Harvard town, Worcester County4%90%3%2%
Holliston town, Middlesex County6%90%3%1%
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County6%89%3%2%
Hudson town, Middlesex County9%87%0%3%
Lexington town, Middlesex County6%84%7%2%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County5%85%4%5%
Littleton town, Middlesex County5%90%3%2%
Marlborough city, Middlesex County11%84%1%4%
Maynard town, Middlesex County9%85%3%3%
Medfield town, Norfolk County6%85%7%2%
Medway town, Norfolk County5%90%3%1%
Milford town, Worcester County9%88%1%2%
Millis town, Norfolk County5%89%4%2%
Natick town, Middlesex County7%82%9%3%
Needham town, Norfolk County5%79%12%4%
Sherborn town, Middlesex County5%89%5%1%
Southborough town, Worcester County6%91%1%2%
Stow town, Middlesex County5%89%4%2%
Sudbury town, Middlesex County4%90%3%3%
Walpole town, Norfolk County4%89%7%1%
Waltham city, Middlesex County9%75%8%8%
Wayland town, Middlesex County8%87%4%1%
Wellesley town, Norfolk County4%72%10%14%
Westborough town, Worcester County7%90%1%3%
Westford town, Middlesex County6%92%1%1%
Weston town, Middlesex County6%83%5%6%
Westwood town, Norfolk County5%83%10%2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Rate is percent of those who do not work at home. 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 Workers by Means of Transportation, 2000
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States15,634,05197,102,0505,867,5595,491,345
Massachusetts279,1112,290,258264,195171,769
Region120,5891,089,797123,20572,514
Middlesex County62,437550,45077,39345,629
Norfolk County24,657241,74340,53912,735
Worcester County33,495297,6045,27314,150
Acton town, Middlesex County8148,839495178
Ashland town, Middlesex County4916,95739276
Bedford town, Middlesex County3815,397129163
Bellingham town, Norfolk County6867,244229129
Boxborough town, Middlesex County1612,2936631
Carlisle town, Middlesex County1001,8096644
Concord town, Middlesex County3835,665369286
Dedham town, Norfolk County6379,0711,053378
Dover town, Norfolk County972,11819249
Framingham city, Middlesex County3,93826,9951,6301,184
Groton town, Middlesex County2483,997100176
Harvard town, Worcester County1122,3158963
Holliston town, Middlesex County3765,92122587
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County3705,559164122
Hudson town, Middlesex County9138,39047283
Lexington town, Middlesex County87711,375924333
Lincoln town, Middlesex County2003,150165182
Littleton town, Middlesex County1903,62412878
Marlborough city, Middlesex County2,15216,219195758
Maynard town, Middlesex County5014,819149176
Medfield town, Norfolk County3374,523379112
Medway town, Norfolk County3395,55021291
Milford town, Worcester County1,18911,87085318
Millis town, Norfolk County2023,60916467
Natick town, Middlesex County1,14513,9841,572448
Needham town, Norfolk County60110,1251,547479
Sherborn town, Middlesex County831,5338522
Southborough town, Worcester County2403,6915477
Stow town, Middlesex County1422,62111059
Sudbury town, Middlesex County3006,733248190
Walpole town, Norfolk County4709,71872270
Waltham city, Middlesex County2,74923,8402,6762,618
Wayland town, Middlesex County4535,16024572
Wellesley town, Norfolk County4928,0931,1661,556
Westborough town, Worcester County5497,30086216
Westford town, Middlesex County5709,45712576
Weston town, Middlesex County2823,743242259
Westwood town, Norfolk County3005,125632126

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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