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 get involved in schools, religious organizations and other forms of civic life.

In 2017-21, 10% of the region's households did not have a vehicle, unchanged since 2000. This rate was significantly lower than the state (29%) and similar to the nation (8%).

The counties in 2017-21 with the highest shares of households without a vehicle were Yates (13%), and Monroe (11%). The lowest rate were in Livingston (6%), Ontario (7%), and Orleans, Seneca, Wayne and Wyoming (all at 8%). Most counties remained stable from 2000 to 2017-21, but Yates increased 3 percentage points.

The City of Rochester was higher than all neighboring cities, at 24%, although the city has remained stable from 2000 to 2017-21.

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 are expected to be released annually in December.