That census map showing Bothell as mostly 1-car households caught me off guard

I was digging through the 2023 American Community Survey data the other night, and something wild jumped out. Over 60% of households in the 98011 zip code report having just one vehicle or none at all. That surprised me because everyone I know around here drives a truck or SUV, but the numbers don't lie. Is that why parking at Canyon Park is always a nightmare, or are people actually walking more than I think?

2 comments

2 Comments

christopher_west124d ago

Wait, hold on, are you telling me that map is actually right? I always figured everyone out here had a truck or a big SUV because that's what I see in my neighborhood and at the grocery store. But I remember complaining about parking at the Totem Lake mall a few months back, and my buddy who lives downtown said I was crazy because most people walk or take the bus over there. It kind of clicked when you put it that way, maybe what you see driving around isn't the full story, especially if you're in a car yourself. Looking at it now, I bet a ton of people either share one car with their spouse or live close enough to everything that they don't really need a second one.

wade_hall24d ago

Yeah, that part about "what you see driving around isn't the full story" hit me hard. I used to think the same way honestly. My street is lined with trucks and big SUVs, so I figured everyone was like that. But then I started noticing how many driveways here actually only have one car parked in them, especially during the day when the other spouse is probably at work or walking to the bus stop. The data makes a lot of sense now when I actually stop and think about it.