Special Report
Residential Areas Where People Enjoy the Shortest Commutes
Published:
The number of American workers working from home – particularly those in white collar jobs – skyrocketed during the pandemic. The shift has proved to be a positive development in some ways. A recent Gallup study found that over 90% of remote workers hope that the trend continues after the pandemic, citing the lack of commute time as the chief benefit.
Still, for a large share of the workforce, remote work is not an option. Gallup reports that 55% full-time employees in the United States do not work remotely – and commute time still makes up a significant portion of their day. (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 travel to and from work every Monday through Friday, this translates to about 4.5 hours per week, or nearly 10 days a year.
Of course, commute times vary from person to person, but in some parts of the country, workers who are still commuting tend to have far less travel time than others. Using census data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 U.S. ZIP codes with the shortest commutes.
In every place on this list, average commute times are 10 minutes or less. This adds up to less than two hours per week, and less than four days per year.
The ZIP codes on this list are spread across the country, though Alaska alone is home to nine, the most of any state. In nearly every ZIP code on this list, the share of commuters using public transit is below 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. Here is a look at the cities where people lose the most time driving each year.
Click here to see the ZIP codes with the shortest commutes
Click here to see our detailed methodology
50. 02557
> Location: Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 10.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 69.5% — 2,241st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.2% — 3,901st highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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49. 87801
> Location: Socorro, New Mexico
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 10.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 66.2% — 1,624th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.1% — 8,220th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.1% — 5,395th lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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48. 84741
> Location: Kanab, Utah
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 10.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 71.4% — 2,752nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.7% — 4,470th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
47. 57325
> Location: Chamberlain, South Dakota
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.0% — 7,541st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.1% — 3,935th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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46. 65305
> Location: Whiteman, Missouri
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.1% — 4,429th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.9% — 7,804th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
45. 06269
> Location: Storrs, Connecticut
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 7.9% — 44th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 3.4% — 852nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.1% — 6,105th highest of 16,964 zip codes
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44. 76544
> Location: Fort Hood, Texas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 52.6% — 611th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 15.6% — 915th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.2% — 6,778th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
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43. 66442
> Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 67.5% — 1,822nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.4% — 4,938th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 7,127th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
42. 99576
> Location: Dillingham, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 39.9% — 338th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 28.3% — 33rd highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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41. 59538
> Location: Malta, Montana
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.5% — 2,032nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.7% — 7,407th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.6% — 7,774th highest of 16,964 zip codes
40. 99574
> Location: Cordova, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 61.3% — 1,084th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 14.0% — 1,581st highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.5% — 8,482nd highest of 16,964 zip codes
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39. 32508
> Location: Warrington, Florida
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 15.6% — 102nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 3.1% — 683rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
38. 67420
> Location: Beloit, Kansas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 84.6% — 3,757th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.1% — 6,194th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 7,053rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
37. 58204
> Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 86.8% — 2,053rd highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.5% — 5,071st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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36. 87528
> Location: Dulce, New Mexico
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.8% — 4,244th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 18.3% — 355th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 6,882nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
35. 28533
> Location: Havelock, North Carolina
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 40.4% — 346th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 38.0% — 7th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.3% — 4,109th highest of 16,964 zip codes
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34. 10996
> Location: West Point, New York
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 34.0% — 259th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.4% — 4,844th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 7,314th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
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33. 76908
> Location: San Angelo, Texas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 23.6% — 163rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 1.3% — 103rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
32. 14802
> Location: Alfred, New York
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 18.3% — 121st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 2.5% — 386th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% — 7,112th highest of 16,964 zip codes
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31. 42223
> Location: Fort Campbell North, Kentucky
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 63.7% — 1,296th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.4% — 6,780th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.4% — 8,166th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
30. 92055
> Location: Camp Pendleton North, California
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 8.6% — 48th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 20.5% — 193rd highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.7% — 4,830th highest of 16,964 zip codes
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29. 69301
> Location: Alliance, Nebraska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 9.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.0% — 6,581st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 14.1% — 1,493rd highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.2% — 6,029th lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
28. 99833
> Location: Petersburg, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 52.9% — 620th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.3% — 3,737th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.5% — 8,349th highest of 16,964 zip codes
27. 30905
> Location: Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.8
> Share of commuters driving alone: 41.0% — 357th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.3% — 8,470th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 9.2% — 1,289th highest of 16,964 zip codes
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26. 88330
> Location: Holloman, New Mexico
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.6% — 2,065th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 13.1% — 2,076th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
25. 99559
> Location: Bethel, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 38.6% — 312th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 19.1% — 285th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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24. 30149
> Location: Rome, Georgia
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 28.5% — 205th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.5% — 8,035th highest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.7% — 7,644th highest of 16,964 zip codes
23. 23511
> Location: Norfolk, Virginia
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 32.8% — 249th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 3.3% — 781st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% — 7,074th highest of 16,964 zip codes
22. 29152
> Location: Sumter, South Carolina
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 65.2% — 1,476th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 3.6% — 989th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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21. 78832
> Location: Brackettville, Texas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.3% — 6,815th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 3.6% — 949th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.2% — 6,026th lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
20. 99703
> Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 59.9% — 971st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 18.7% — 321st highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.6% — 7,781st highest of 16,964 zip codes
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19. 23460
> Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.1
> Share of commuters driving alone: 37.9% — 303rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 13.4% — 1,869th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.6% — 5,040th highest of 16,964 zip codes
18. 80913
> Location: Fort Carson, Colorado
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 8.0
> Share of commuters driving alone: 35.0% — 266th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 28.0% — 36th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
17. 79406
> Location: Lubbock, Texas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 30.8% — 229th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.3% — 6,551st lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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16. 28547
> Location: Jacksonville, North Carolina
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 34.5% — 263rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 21.7% — 138th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.9% — 4,609th highest of 16,964 zip codes
15. 79607
> Location: Abilene, Texas
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.4% — 6,957th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 5.8% — 3,756th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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14. 92310
> Location: Fort Irwin, California
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.7
> Share of commuters driving alone: 63.7% — 1,289th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.6% — 2,449th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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13. 69210
> Location: Ainsworth, Nebraska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.5% — 4,083rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.7% — 4,417th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
12. 02841
> Location: Newport, Rhode Island
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.6
> Share of commuters driving alone: 25.0% — 177th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 0.5% — 27th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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11. 99685
> Location: Unalaska, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 51.7% — 586th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.4% — 2,644th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 7,243rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
10. 98278
> Location: Whidbey Island Station, Washington
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.4
> Share of commuters driving alone: 48.0% — 488th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 18.3% — 351st highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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9. 99762
> Location: Nome, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 39.2% — 323rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 17.3% — 484th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 7,553rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
8. 96857
> Location: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 26.9% — 195th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.7% — 5,339th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.1% — 5,888th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
7. 29404
> Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 7.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.8% — 8,293rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 2.0% — 236th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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6. 57369
> Location: Platte, South Dakota
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 6.9
> Share of commuters driving alone: 67.4% — 1,813th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 4.7% — 2,022nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
5. 99723
> Location: Barrow, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 6.5
> Share of commuters driving alone: 38.5% — 308th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 31.8% — 19th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
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4. 13602
> Location: Fort Drum, New York
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 6.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 17.4% — 113th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.0% — 2,931st highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
3. 99752
> Location: Kotzebue, Alaska
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 6.2
> Share of commuters driving alone: 25.9% — 186th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 16.7% — 600th highest of 16,964 zip codes (tied)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.4% — 5,353rd highest of 16,964 zip codes
2. 28310
> Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 5.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 22.1% — 153rd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 14.7% — 1,208th highest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% — 6,968th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
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1. 29207
> Location: Columbia, South Carolina
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 1.3
> Share of commuters driving alone: 0.7% — 2nd lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters carpooling: 0.2% — 20th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.1% — 5,307th lowest of 16,964 zip codes
Methodology
To determine the towns 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.
ZIP codes were ranked based on their average commute time. To break ties, we used the share of workers with a commute of 15 minutes or less.
We used ZIP code tabulation areas — a census geography type that defines areal representations of United States Postal Service ZIP codes (USPS ZIP codes do not define geographic boundaries but instead are a network of mail delivery routes in a service area). We refer to Census ZCTAs as ZIP codes.
ZIP codes were excluded if average commute time estimates were not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 workers 16 years and over who did not work from home, or if the sampling error associated with a ZIP code’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a ZIP code’s average commute time was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all ZIP codes’ average commute times. We similarly excluded ZIP codes that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Additional information on the share of commuters driving alone, carpooling, and using public transit are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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