Not sure that's really "odd", given that NYC is a city where car ownership is an extreme class / living-situation signifier.
If you live in a house out in Queens and work as a plumber then you definitely have a car.
If you live in Manhattan or Brooklyn and work for an investment bank you probably don't.
Having a car in the city can be a real pain. A lot really depends on your lifestyle, if you need one -- like if you go rock climbing every weekend, you do. If you're into restaurants and clubs, you definitely don't.