Community Life
Means of Transportation to Work, 2017-21


Means of Transportation to Work, 2017-21

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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 county doing?

The majority of commuters in Essex County drove alone to work in 2017-21 (80%), followed by 9% who carpooled, 5% who used public transportation and 6% who biked, walked, or used other means. This was similar to the nation. Compared to Essex, Massachusetts had a somewhat lower rate of driving to work alone (75%) and a higher share of people who used public transportation (9%).

From 2000 to 2017-21, Essex County had a slight increase in its shares of commuters who biked, walked or used other means (2 percentage points) and a slight decrease in those who drove alone and those that carpooled (1 percentage point each).

How do we compare to similar counties?

There were notably lower rates of driving alone in Westchester, NY (62%) and Middlesex, MA (72%) and substantially higher rates of public transportation use in both counties (23% and 12%, respectively). This likely reflects the availability of more robust public transportation in these counties. Compared to Essex, Lake, IL had a slightly higher rate of driving alone (82%) and slightly lower rates of using public transit or walking, biking and other means (both at 4%).

Notes about the data

The multi-year 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. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). Data for this indicator is expected to be released annually in December.

Means of Transportation to Work, 2017-21
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
Essex County, MA9%80%5%6%
Amesbury8%**87%2%******3%****
Beverly6%**76%9%9%**
Gloucester8%**83%2%****7%**
Haverhill9%85%3%****4%**
Lawrence16%72%3%**9%
Lynn13%71%9%8%
Methuen10%85%1%****4%**
Newburyport10%****79%4%****7%****
Peabody7%**87%3%**3%**
Salem9%**71%9%11%
Andover5%**83%5%**6%**
Boxford5%******85%2%******8%******
Danvers6%**89%3%****2%****
Essex10%******78%3%******10%******
Georgetown9%****89%2%******1%******
Groveland12%******87%1%******0%******
Hamilton5%******81%8%****7%****
Ipswich3%******86%6%****4%****
Lynnfield7%******90%3%****0%******
Manchester5%******72%19%****4%******
Marblehead6%**77%10%**7%****
Merrimac8%******87%0%******5%******
Middleton6%******92%1%******1%******
Nahant9%******81%7%******4%******
Newbury4%******89%1%******7%******
North Andover5%**87%3%****5%****
Rockport6%******80%5%****9%****
Rowley5%******92%2%******2%******
Salisbury4%******92%2%******2%******
Saugus8%**82%6%**4%****
Swampscott8%****72%17%****3%******
Topsfield6%******86%5%******3%******
Wenham5%****72%6%******17%**
West Newbury4%******90%2%******3%******
Middlesex County, MA8%72%12%9%
Lake County, IL9%82%4%4%
Westchester County, NY9%62%23%7%
Massachusetts8%75%9%8%
United States10%81%5%5%

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, 2017-21
CarpooledDrove AlonePublic transportationTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, walked, or other means
Essex County, MA32,740295,21018,43821,436
Amesbury675**7,752160******301****
Beverly1,153**14,8431,6891,841**
Gloucester1,098**11,646350****942**
Haverhill2,79527,259983****1,131**
Lawrence6,03927,4721,282**3,485
Lynn6,06132,7674,0423,522
Methuen2,38021,042354****894**
Newburyport783****6,104330****548****
Peabody1,904**22,687719**661**
Salem1,944**15,5061,9172,510
Andover781**12,195757**904**
Boxford176******2,96773******278******
Danvers802**11,769385****281****
Essex154******1,21848******151******
Georgetown341****3,47160******27******
Groveland435******3,08334******0******
Hamilton147******2,451233****198****
Ipswich217******5,555420****287****
Lynnfield363******4,732176****16******
Manchester116******1,558409****92******
Marblehead459**6,250840**608****
Merrimac250******2,81610******150******
Middleton235******3,75434******49******
Nahant149******1,400124******66******
Newbury104******2,60729******198******
North Andover667**11,723447****674****
Rockport157******2,264153****269****
Rowley162******2,98853******50******
Salisbury179******3,80777******90******
Saugus1,154**11,493808**535****
Swampscott536****4,7451,154****175******
Topsfield138******2,040122******77******
Wenham105****1,514120******359**
West Newbury81******1,73246******67******
Middlesex County, MA56,582535,29586,23765,336
Lake County, IL29,443258,31013,45312,038
Westchester County, NY36,708261,95596,70129,293
Massachusetts252,2272,370,510300,001241,657
United States13,340,838113,724,2716,472,3736,685,789

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
Essex County, MA10%81%5%4%
Beverly7%81%7%5%
Gloucester8%82%4%6%
Haverhill11%84%2%3%
Lawrence22%66%3%9%
Lynn13%71%9%6%
Methuen10%86%1%3%
Newburyport7%86%3%5%
Peabody8%87%2%2%
Salem10%74%9%7%
Andover7%86%4%4%
Boxford6%91%2%1%
Danvers7%89%3%2%
Essex5%89%2%4%
Georgetown6%91%2%1%
Groveland8%89%2%1%
Hamilton6%86%7%2%
Ipswich7%86%5%2%
Lynnfield6%88%4%2%
Manchester6%82%6%6%
Marblehead6%82%6%5%
Merrimac8%89%1%2%
Middleton7%90%2%1%
Nahant9%81%9%1%
Newbury4%90%2%4%
North Andover6%87%3%4%
Rockport7%79%6%9%
Rowley7%88%2%3%
Salisbury13%84%1%2%
Saugus8%82%8%2%
Swampscott7%78%13%3%
Topsfield5%89%4%2%
Wenham5%78%9%8%
West Newbury9%90%0%1%
Middlesex County, MA8%75%11%6%
Lake County, IL11%80%5%5%
Westchester County, NY10%64%21%6%
Massachusetts9%76%9%6%
United States13%78%5%4%

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
Essex County, MA32,332270,60415,50113,911
Beverly1,40315,9331,3871,003
Gloucester1,16611,851552882
Haverhill3,16723,869549854
Lawrence5,41216,0198272,072
Lynn5,04826,9933,4622,312
Methuen1,94017,383263520
Newburyport6107,369222401
Peabody1,93820,518521474
Salem2,09715,3421,7931,489
Andover99012,213545527
Boxford2223,2377047
Danvers82811,010312246
Essex741,3553659
Georgetown2103,2909031
Groveland2582,7104727
Hamilton2133,03423160
Ipswich4355,607308156
Lynnfield3224,428205101
Manchester1391,975136147
Marblehead6308,097629482
Merrimac2622,8754263
Middleton2402,9075229
Nahant1611,49716027
Newbury1202,94380118
North Andover75210,946368488
Rockport2582,906205314
Rowley2112,4856371
Salisbury4973,2915060
Saugus1,01310,6611,005262
Swampscott4955,476883180
Topsfield1282,39211352
Wenham821,220139127
West Newbury1781,847722
Middlesex County, MA62,437550,45077,39345,629
Lake County, IL32,306242,38714,08815,367
Westchester County, NY40,384261,74283,97422,647
Massachusetts279,1112,290,258264,195171,769
United States15,634,05197,102,0505,867,5595,491,345

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 TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable