Mid-Sized Cities Make Car-Free Gains

Several cities located in the Northeast, especially in the New York region, saw a significant increase in the number of car-free households.

1 minute read

December 8, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New Jersey

Paterson, New jersey, picture in march 2017, has less of this car stuff these days. | Andrew F. Kazmierski / Shutterstock

Although car ownership is increasing as the economy improves following the Great Recession (that is, fewer American households are car-free), there are exceptions to that trend to be found in a surprising kind of place—the country's medium-sized cities.

"Several mid-sized cities recorded notable increases in shares of car-free households when averages from the 2015 and 2016 American Community Surveys are compared with those for 2009 and 2010," according to an article by Mike Maciag.

The list of medium-sized cities with an increasing number of car-free households include:

  • Paterson, New Jersey
  • New Haven, Connecticut
  • Davenport, Iowa
  • Elizabeth, New Jersey
  • Peoria, Illinois

The article includes additional data about car-free households, along with some helpful infographics to presenting the trends in visual form.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 in Governing

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 20, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A yellow, two-story building named Ferns with two American flags.

This MA town is drowning in its own sewage — and residents like it that way

Susan Murcott, a waste water expert, said if Carlisle didn't address their leaking sewage, the problem could turn “deadly.”

October 22, 2026 - Boston Globe

One of Google's power plants pumping pollution into the air.

To power data centers, Google seeks autonomous control of thousands of homes’ electricity

The tech company has signed a deal to indirectly pay Mid-Atlantic residents to reduce their power demand when the grid is strained.

3 seconds ago - New York Times

A crowd of people around one of Honolulu's automated trains.

From robotaxis to robotrains: LA, DC weigh driverless transit

If approved, the projects will take years to implement and face financial and technical hurdles.

1 hour ago - The Associated Press

A crowd of people cut the ribbon on Fresco's new downtown.

Dallas suburbs are turning their downtowns into small towns

Four Texas towns are embracing walkability and density in their downtowns.

2 hours ago - The Dallas Morning News