Community Life
Means of Transportation to Work

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Means of Transportation to Work, 2018-22

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 2018-22 (76%), followed by 9% 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 (4%) and a larger share who drove to work alone (81%). Since 2008-12, there has been a one percentage point decline in the share of commuters in the region driving alone to work.

In 2018-22, Middlesex and Norfolk had slightly smaller percentages of commuters who drove to work alone (72% and 74%, respectively) than the region as a whole, while Worcester was higher, at 84%. Norfolk had the highest share of transit users (13%). Just 2% of Worcester County commuters used public transportation.

In Framingham, 79% of commuters were driving alone to work and 8% carpooling with just 4% using public transportation. In Waltham, 71% drove alone, compared to 68% in Wellesley.

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, 2018-22
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States10%81%4%5%
Massachusetts8%75%9%8%
Region8%76%9%7%
Middlesex County8%72%11%9%
Norfolk County7%74%13%6%
Worcester County9%84%2%5%
Acton town, Middlesex County6%*85%5%*3%**
Ashland town, Middlesex County8%**81%7%*4%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County11%*80%2%***8%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County6%**90%2%***3%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County7%***88%5%***1%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County7%***86%5%***2%***
Concord town, Middlesex County3%***85%5%**6%**
Dedham town, Norfolk County8%**78%8%*6%**
Dover town, Norfolk County7%***82%9%***3%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County8%79%4%*9%
Franklin town, Norfolk County5%**88%3%*4%*
Groton town, Middlesex County9%**87%1%***3%***
Harvard town, Worcester County4%***87%6%***3%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County4%**91%3%***2%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County4%**90%4%**2%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County8%*85%2%***5%***
Lexington town, Middlesex County7%*80%8%*6%*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County1%***88%6%***5%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County5%***89%3%**3%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County12%*81%1%***6%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County6%***91%1%***2%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County6%***83%8%**3%***
Medway town, Norfolk County7%**88%2%***3%**
Milford town, Worcester County8%*82%1%***9%**
Millis town, Norfolk County7%**91%2%***0%***
Natick town, Middlesex County5%*81%10%*5%**
Needham town, Norfolk County5%**79%12%*4%**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County7%***75%14%**5%***
Southborough town, Worcester County5%**86%6%*3%***
Stow town, Middlesex County5%***89%3%***2%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County6%**86%4%**4%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County5%*83%10%*2%***
Waltham city, Middlesex County13%*71%6%*10%
Wayland town, Middlesex County7%**88%3%**2%***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County7%*68%9%17%
Westborough town, Worcester County7%**85%4%**3%***
Westford town, Middlesex County7%*88%4%**2%***
Weston town, Middlesex County5%***80%5%**10%**
Westwood town, Norfolk County10%*78%10%*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, 2018-22
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States13,388,082112,314,7025,945,7236,738,431
Massachusetts251,9712,308,427271,923236,559
Region110,8561,059,741124,933103,767
Middlesex County56,519511,82377,90163,674
Norfolk County21,071230,00140,45020,259
Worcester County33,266317,9176,58219,834
Acton town, Middlesex County537*7,407445*285**
Ashland town, Middlesex County681**7,122580*392***
Bedford town, Middlesex County505*3,82382***370***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County427**6,826130***235***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County179***2,413134***15***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County118***1,35381***25***
Concord town, Middlesex County151***4,157265**304**
Dedham town, Norfolk County938**9,242922*681**
Dover town, Norfolk County109***1,360150***45***
Framingham city, Middlesex County2,53125,3001,326*3,033
Franklin town, Norfolk County735**12,831496*592*
Groton town, Middlesex County385**3,86648***136***
Harvard town, Worcester County75***1,746115***63***
Holliston town, Middlesex County243**5,640185***150***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County295**6,586282**150***
Hudson town, Middlesex County687*7,179177***396***
Lexington town, Middlesex County780*9,342874*642*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County21***1,753110***103***
Littleton town, Middlesex County208***3,769132**139***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County2,297*15,037178***1,134*
Maynard town, Middlesex County294***4,27924***93***
Medfield town, Norfolk County238***3,555349**137***
Medway town, Norfolk County421**5,346119***171**
Milford town, Worcester County1,141*11,711178***1,292**
Millis town, Norfolk County253**3,39377***17***
Natick town, Middlesex County756*13,1401,613*795**
Needham town, Norfolk County607**9,0481,330*444**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County106***1,144210**72***
Southborough town, Worcester County203**3,768259*132***
Stow town, Middlesex County135***2,27185***58***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County375**5,523257**233***
Walpole town, Norfolk County570*8,6601,068*158***
Waltham city, Middlesex County3,844*21,7541,892*3,175
Wayland town, Middlesex County345**4,381132**94***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County593*6,1638101,522
Westborough town, Worcester County626**7,325371**264***
Westford town, Middlesex County663*8,818369**180***
Weston town, Middlesex County167***2,905187**377**
Westwood town, Norfolk County622*4,752635*51***

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, 2008-12
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States10%80%5%5%
Massachusetts8%75%10%7%
Region8%77%9%6%
Middlesex County9%73%11%7%
Norfolk County7%75%13%5%
Worcester County9%85%2%4%
Acton town, Middlesex County8%*84%6%*3%**
Ashland town, Middlesex County7%*86%5%**3%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County6%*88%2%***4%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County6%*90%3%**1%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County11%**85%2%***3%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County8%***88%3%***2%***
Concord town, Middlesex County9%*78%8%*5%**
Dedham town, Norfolk County9%*77%10%4%*
Dover town, Norfolk County7%***83%7%**3%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County11%79%4%*5%
Franklin town, Norfolk County7%*82%9%*2%**
Groton town, Middlesex County5%**90%2%***3%***
Harvard town, Worcester County5%***90%2%***3%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County7%*90%2%***1%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County4%**86%8%*2%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County7%*89%0%***4%***
Lexington town, Middlesex County9%81%7%*2%*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County7%***78%6%**9%**
Littleton town, Middlesex County8%**89%2%***1%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County15%81%1%**3%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County5%***89%0%***6%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County3%**87%8%**2%***
Medway town, Norfolk County6%**89%3%**1%***
Milford town, Worcester County12%*82%2%**4%**
Millis town, Norfolk County2%***93%2%***3%***
Natick town, Middlesex County6%*83%8%3%*
Needham town, Norfolk County5%*80%11%4%*
Sherborn town, Middlesex County5%***90%2%***3%***
Southborough town, Worcester County5%**89%3%**3%***
Stow town, Middlesex County5%***92%2%***2%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County6%**88%3%**3%**
Walpole town, Norfolk County7%*85%7%*1%***
Waltham city, Middlesex County8%74%7%10%
Wayland town, Middlesex County8%**84%3%**5%**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County5%*66%11%19%
Westborough town, Worcester County10%*84%3%**3%**
Westford town, Middlesex County5%*89%3%**2%**
Weston town, Middlesex County8%**81%4%**7%**
Westwood town, Norfolk County7%*81%9%*3%***

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, 2008-12
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
United States14,032,099106,519,8056,967,6896,396,417
Massachusetts262,8442,333,063295,729203,796
Region119,9041,104,806133,77885,078
Middlesex County63,840546,55183,94754,294
Norfolk County22,725240,82243,47915,905
Worcester County33,339317,4336,35214,879
Acton town, Middlesex County789*8,623609*269**
Ashland town, Middlesex County615*7,425409**229***
Bedford town, Middlesex County350*5,10290***249***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County552*7,826243**64***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County255**2,02144***66***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County157***1,80258***36***
Concord town, Middlesex County608*5,437531*353**
Dedham town, Norfolk County1,057*8,7711,121448*
Dover town, Norfolk County165***1,856164**63***
Framingham city, Middlesex County4,05728,0401,375*1,942
Franklin town, Norfolk County1,034*12,4151,308*370**
Groton town, Middlesex County244**4,38287***130***
Harvard town, Worcester County103***1,93241***71***
Holliston town, Middlesex County431*5,718154***78***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County245**5,475498*156***
Hudson town, Middlesex County612*8,22829***373***
Lexington town, Middlesex County1,24110,673947*279*
Lincoln town, Middlesex County174***2,039148**242**
Littleton town, Middlesex County323**3,71491***57***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County3,12417,421285**662*
Maynard town, Middlesex County248***4,79312***313***
Medfield town, Norfolk County146**4,670423**128***
Medway town, Norfolk County384**5,405203**71***
Milford town, Worcester County1,659*11,503295**496**
Millis town, Norfolk County65***3,48187***113***
Natick town, Middlesex County970*13,9761,437525*
Needham town, Norfolk County624*9,8931,386508*
Sherborn town, Middlesex County77***1,51936***58***
Southborough town, Worcester County234**4,192148**120***
Stow town, Middlesex County155***2,86652***58***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County430**6,431237**199**
Walpole town, Norfolk County710*9,186790*139***
Waltham city, Middlesex County2,75824,2742,2423,342
Wayland town, Middlesex County425**4,514188**264**
Wellesley town, Norfolk County501*7,3261,1952,074
Westborough town, Worcester County827*7,138251**237**
Westford town, Middlesex County533*9,031286**248**
Weston town, Middlesex County354**3,544170**300**
Westwood town, Norfolk County441*4,999543*169***

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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