The share of Americans working from home skyrocketed during the pandemic. A recent Gallup study found that 45% of full-time workers in the United States – and two-thirds of white-collar workers – were doing their job remotely at least some of the time.
The shift is proving to be a positive development for millions of Americans. Gallup reports that over 90% of remote workers hope that the trend continues after the pandemic, citing the lack of commute time as the chief benefit. (Here is a look at the state where the most people are working from home.)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute time in the United States is 26.9 minutes. For those who have shifted to full-time remote work, this translates to about 4.5 hours per week, or nearly 10 days a year, of time that they did not have before.
Of course, commute times vary from person to person, but in some parts of the country, workers are far more likely to have longer commutes than in others. Using census data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 metropolitan areas with the longest commutes.
Among the metro areas on this list, average commute times range from 27.2 minutes up to 40 minutes. Over the course of a week, these commute times add up, from nearly five hours to well over six – and to 10 days to over two weeks over the course of a year for those who commute every Monday through Friday.
Several metro areas on this list, including Boston, New York, and Washington D.C., have reliable public transportation systems, and the share of workers commuting with public transit far exceeds the 4.6% national average. In most cases, public transportation is less direct than simply driving from door to door, adding to overall commute time.
Additionally, many cities on this list, including some of those with high public transit usage rates, are notorious for traffic congestion that adds to commute time. These include Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Here is a look at the cities where people lose the most time driving each year.
Click here to see the metros with the longest commutes
Click here to see our detailed methodology
50. York-Hanover, PA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 83.0% — 73rd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.1% — 108th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% — 184th lowest of 384 metros
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49. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 73.1% — 39th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.8% — 189th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.7% — 84th highest of 384 metros
48. Homosassa Springs, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 81.2% — 142nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.7% — 74th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.1% — 7th lowest of 384 metros
47. Port St. Lucie, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.7% — 178th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.5% — 148th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 59th lowest of 384 metros
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46. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.1% — 10th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.6% — 168th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.2% — 57th highest of 384 metros
45. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.8% — 111th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.8% — 112th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.7% — 155th lowest of 384 metros
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44. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.7% — 58th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.1% — 178th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.1% — 63rd highest of 384 metros
43. Gainesville, GA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.1% — 146th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.2% — 19th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.5% — 111th lowest of 384 metros
42. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.8
> Share of commuters driving alone: 72.7% — 35th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.9% — 97th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 3.8% — 28th highest of 384 metros
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41. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.8
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.1% — 95th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.5% — 155th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.1% — 134th highest of 384 metros
40. Greeley, CO
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 27.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.4% — 126th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.4% — 73rd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.4% — 100th lowest of 384 metros
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39. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.3% — 180th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.1% — 105th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.6% — 95th highest of 384 metros
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38. Manchester-Nashua, NH
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.3% — 179th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.4% — 46th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% — 189th highest of 384 metros
37. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.1% — 148th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.7% — 174th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.9% — 176th highest of 384 metros
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36. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.1% — 117th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.7% — 122nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.2% — 131st highest of 384 metros
35. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 82.2% — 104th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.8% — 118th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.4% — 81st lowest of 384 metros
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34. Kingston, NY
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.2% — 67th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.7% — 63rd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.4% — 51st highest of 384 metros
33. Urban Honolulu, HI
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 65.2% — 9th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 13.4% — 6th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 7.1% — 10th highest of 384 metros
32. Madera, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.7% — 56th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 14.0% — 3rd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.4% — 83rd lowest of 384 metros
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31. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.5% — 15th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.6% — 60th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 6.7% — 11th highest of 384 metros
30. Merced, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.3% — 156th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.0% — 184th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.9% — 170th highest of 384 metros
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29. Gettysburg, PA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 81.0% — 152nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.5% — 151st lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.4% — 73rd lowest of 384 metros
28. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 29.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 71.2% — 25th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.3% — 83rd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 3.9% — 26th highest of 384 metros
27. Yuba City, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 29.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.9% — 143rd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.8% — 26th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% — 192nd lowest of 384 metros
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26. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 29.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.8% — 112th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.7% — 129th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.4% — 111th highest of 384 metros
25. Worcester, MA-CT
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 29.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.2% — 119th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.8% — 79th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.8% — 79th highest of 384 metros
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24. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 29.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 76.7% — 84th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.2% — 170th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 3.0% — 36th highest of 384 metros
23. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 30.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.1% — 12th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.7% — 71st lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 8.3% — 9th highest of 384 metros
22. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 30.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.9% — 142nd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.6% — 137th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.9% — 73rd highest of 384 metros
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21. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 30.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 70.4% — 23rd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.5% — 50th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 8.8% — 8th highest of 384 metros
20. Modesto, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 30.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.6% — 172nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.4% — 75th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% — 179th lowest of 384 metros
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19. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 30.8
> Share of commuters driving alone: 73.1% — 40th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.5% — 146th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 4.5% — 21st highest of 384 metros
18. Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.9% — 158th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.3% — 163rd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.1% — 147th highest of 384 metros
17. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 64.9% — 8th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.8% — 117th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 9.1% — 7th highest of 384 metros
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16. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.7% — 57th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.9% — 88th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 5.7% — 14th highest of 384 metros
15. Hammond, LA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.2% — 192nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.7% — 11th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.2% — 16th lowest of 384 metros
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14. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 69.5% — 17th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.3% — 126th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 9.3% — 6th highest of 384 metros
13. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 64.4% — 6th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.9% — 15th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 12.3% — 3rd highest of 384 metros
12. California-Lexington Park, MD
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.0% — 188th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.3% — 139th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.5% — 99th highest of 384 metros
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11. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.8
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.3% — 14th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.7% — 68th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 11.3% — 5th highest of 384 metros
10. Winchester, VA-WV
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 32.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.9% — 159th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.7% — 124th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 66th lowest of 384 metros
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9. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 32.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.2% — 66th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.0% — 189th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.8% — 41st highest of 384 metros
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8. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 33.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.2% — 118th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.5% — 35th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.2% — 132nd highest of 384 metros
7. Vallejo, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 33.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.9% — 72nd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.7% — 13th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.7% — 43rd highest of 384 metros
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6. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 33.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.5% — 53rd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.1% — 110th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 5.0% — 17th highest of 384 metros
5. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 34.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 55.5% — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.2% — 172nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 16.0% — 2nd highest of 384 metros
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4. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 34.8
> Share of commuters driving alone: 63.4% — 5th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.9% — 192nd highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 12.0% — 4th highest of 384 metros
3. Stockton, CA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 35.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.6% — 129th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.2% — 17th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.6% — 90th highest of 384 metros
2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 37.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 48.5% — the lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.3% — 4th lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 29.8% — the highest of 384 metros
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1. East Stroudsburg, PA
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 40.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.4% — 101st lowest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.6% — 58th highest of 384 metros
> Share of commuters using public transit: 3.5% — 30th highest of 384 metros
Methodology
To determine the metro areas with the longest commutes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of average commute times from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metro areas were ranked based on their average commute time. To break ties, we used the share of workers with a commute of 45 minutes or longer.
Additional information on the share of commuters driving alone, carpooling, and using public transit are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
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