Commuting in the U.S. Facts and Statistics
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people are ditching their commutes.
The word “commute” is one of those terms that most U.S. adults are only too familiar with, like “income tax,” “powerwash,” and “back pain.” It’s become a hotter topic in recent years as the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on commutes in the United States. The number of remote workers in the United States tripled from 2019 to 2021 and public transportation usage for commuting is down 40 percent while driving is down 11 percent.
Still, the average American has a 28-minute commute, even with the trend of people working from home. We analyzed data from the U.S. Census and other sources to determine the state of commuting in 2023.
Average Commute Time
In 2019, the most recent year that the U.S. Census collected data, the average commute time for American workers was 28 minutes, a new high for average time spent commuting. However, for half of workers, their commutes were between 10 and 29 minutes long, a reasonable amount of time to be trapped in a car, bus or train, among other modes of transportation (more on that below).1
By State
While the official U.S. Census data on commuting dates back to 2019, there are estimates available for 2020 and 2021, which we drew from below. The state of New York had the longest estimated mean commute time of 31 minutes, although 47 percent of New Yorkers had commutes of 30 minutes and higher.
On the other end of the spectrum is South Dakota, where the mean commute was only 17 minutes. Forty-nine percent had commutes of less than 14 minutes — the ideal amount of time to enjoy a nice cup of coffee on the road.
| State | Mean travel time to work in minutes in 2021 | Less than 10 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25 | 12% | 13% | 17% | 16% | 7% | 14% | 6% | 8% | 7% |
| Alaska | 20 | 23% | 21% | 19% | 14% | 5% | 7% | 3% | 3% | 5% |
| Arizona | 25 | 13% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 8% | 14% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Arkansas | 22 | 19% | 17% | 17% | 14% | 6% | 11% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| California | 28 | 10% | 13% | 16% | 15% | 7% | 15% | 7% | 8% | 10% |
| Colorado | 25 | 13% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 7% | 15% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Connecticut | 26 | 12% | 14% | 17% | 15% | 8% | 13% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Delaware | 25 | 13% | 13% | 18% | 15% | 7% | 11% | 7% | 8% | 7% |
| District of Columbia | 28 | 7% | 9% | 15% | 17% | 7% | 18% | 11% | 8% | 8% |
| Florida | 27 | 9% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 7% | 17% | 8% | 9% | 8% |
| Georgia | 27 | 10% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 7% | 15% | 8% | 9% | 8% |
| Hawaii | 25 | 13% | 14% | 16% | 13% | 6% | 17% | 6% | 8% | 7% |
| Idaho | 22 | 20% | 18% | 16% | 14% | 6% | 11% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| Illinois | 27 | 13% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 7% | 14% | 8% | 10% | 9% |
| Indiana | 24 | 16% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 8% | 12% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Iowa | 20 | 24% | 18% | 17% | 14% | 6% | 9% | 5% | 4% | 4% |
| Kansas | 20 | 23% | 18% | 17% | 14% | 6% | 10% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Kentucky | 24 | 15% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 7% | 11% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Louisiana | 26 | 13% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 6% | 13% | 6% | 7% | 8% |
| Maine | 24 | 19% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 7% | 12% | 7% | 8% | 7% |
| Maryland | 29 | 9% | 11% | 13% | 14% | 7% | 15% | 10% | 11% | 10% |
| Massachusetts | 28 | 11% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 7% | 14% | 8% | 9% | 10% |
| Michigan | 24 | 15% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 7% | 13% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Minnesota | 22 | 18% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 8% | 12% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Mississippi | 25 | 14% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 7% | 13% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Missouri | 23 | 16% | 14% | 17% | 15% | 8% | 13% | 7% | 6% | 5% |
| Montana | 19 | 26% | 20% | 17% | 12% | 6% | 8% | 3% | 3% | 5% |
| Nebraska | 19 | 24% | 17% | 18% | 15% | 6% | 9% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Nevada | 25 | 10% | 13% | 17% | 19% | 9% | 16% | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| New Hampshire | 26 | 14% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 8% | 12% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| New Jersey | 29 | 11% | 12% | 14% | 14% | 7% | 14% | 8% | 9% | 11% |
| New Mexico | 23 | 18% | 16% | 18% | 14% | 6% | 13% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| New York | 31 | 11% | 11% | 13% | 12% | 6% | 14% | 8% | 10% | 16% |
| North Carolina | 25 | 13% | 14% | 17% | 15% | 7% | 14% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| North Dakota | 18 | 28% | 25% | 18% | 11% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 4% |
| Ohio | 23 | 15% | 15% | 16% | 16% | 9% | 12% | 7% | 6% | 5% |
| Oklahoma | 22 | 18% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 6% | 13% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Oregon | 23 | 17% | 16% | 18% | 14% | 7% | 12% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Pennsylvania | 26 | 14% | 14% | 15% | 15% | 7% | 13% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Rhode Island | 25 | 12% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 7% | 14% | 8% | 6% | 6% |
| South Carolina | 26 | 12% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 8% | 15% | 7% | 8% | 7% |
| South Dakota | 17 | 29% | 20% | 18% | 12% | 4% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 3% |
| Tennessee | 25 | 12% | 13% | 17% | 16% | 7% | 14% | 7% | 8% | 7% |
| Texas | 26 | 12% | 13% | 16% | 15% | 7% | 15% | 7% | 8% | 7% |
| Utah | 21 | 17% | 17% | 18% | 17% | 7% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Vermont | 23 | 19% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 6% | 11% | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Virginia | 26 | 11% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 7% | 14% | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| Washington | 26 | 13% | 13% | 16% | 14% | 7% | 14% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| West Virginia | 26 | 15% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 6% | 11% | 6% | 7% | 9% |
| Wisconsin | 22 | 19% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 7% | 11% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Wyoming | 18 | 33% | 22% | 17% | 8% | 3% | 6% | 2% | 3% | 6% |
By City
As New York has the longest commute times of any state, it’s not surprising that New York City has the longest commute of any metropolitan statistical area (MSA) with populations of at least 1 million people. NYC residents spent an average of 38 minutes commuting in 2019 (2020 and 2021 estimates are unavailable for MSAs).
Another New York city, albeit one with a decidedly smaller population than NYC, had the shortest commute of any MSA: Rochester. Rochesterians spent just over 20 minutes commuting in 2019.
| MSA name (populations for at least 1 million) | Average travel time in minutes in 2019 |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 38 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 36 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 35 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | 34 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 33 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | 33 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 32 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 32 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 32 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 32 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 31 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 31 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 30 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 29 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 29 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 29 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 28 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 28 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 28 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 28 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 28 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 28 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 28 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 28 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 27 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 27 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 27 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 27 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 27 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 27 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 27 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 26 |
| St. Louis, MO | 26 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 26 |
| Richmond, VA | 26 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 26 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 26 |
| Tucson, AZ | 25 |
| Columbus, OH | 25 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 25 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 25 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 25 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | 24 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 24 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 24 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 24 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 24 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 23 |
| Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI | 22 |
| Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY | 22 |
| Rochester, NY | 21 |
By Mode of Transportation
Do you want to get to work quickly? Don’t bike. Biking took 71 minutes for the average commuter in 2019 while the average travel time by bus was just 13 minutes.
Interestingly, carpooling took less time on average than driving alone — by 2 minutes. Not to mention, time usually feels like it’s flying by when you’re enjoying a ride with your colleagues.
The Most Common Commuting Modes
Although public transportation is a more environmentally friendly option than driving alone, many places in the U.S. aren’t well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure. As a result, the majority of Americans — an estimated 76 percent in 2021 — drive to work solo. Now, that’s down significantly from 2020 estimates of 84 percent, but it’s not because more people are taking public transit (it’s the opposite, in fact).
| Mode of transportation | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, truck or van | 85% | 84% | 76% |
| Drove alone | 76% | 75% | 68% |
| Carpooled | 9% | 9% | 8% |
| 2-person carpool | Not listed | 7% | 6% |
| 3-person carpool | Not listed | 1% | 1% |
| 4-or-more person carpool | Not listed | 1% | 1% |
| Public transportation (excluding taxicab) | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Walked | 3% | 3% | 2% |
| Bicycle | 1.00% | 1% | Less than 1% |
| Taxicab, motorcycle or other means | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Worked from home | 6% | 7% | 18% |
The reason for the decrease in car commutes between 2019 and 2021 is due to the increase in people working from home; more on that below.
By State
Residents of which state drive to work the most? The answer is Mississippi, where more than nine out of 10 people drive to work, the majority of them alone. Aside from Washington, D.C., where nearly half of all workers are remote, New York has the lowest car commuting rates — only 55 percent.
| Means of transportation in 2021 | Car, truck or van | Drove alone | Carpooled | 2-person carpool | 3-person carpool | 4-or-more person carpool | Public transportation (excluding taxicab) | Walked | Bicycle | Taxicab, motorcycle or other means | Worked from home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 88% | 81% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 10% |
| Alaska | 77% | 66% | 11% | 8% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 7% | 1% | 4% | 10% |
| Arizona | 75% | 66% | 9% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 21% |
| Arkansas | 88% | 79% | 9% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 10% |
| California | 72% | 64% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 21% |
| Colorado | 71% | 64% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 24% |
| Connecticut | 74% | 67% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 20% |
| Delaware | 77% | 71% | 6% | 5% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 19% |
| District of Columbia | 29% | 26% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 12% | 7% | 2% | 3% | 48% |
| Florida | 79% | 71% | 9% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 17% |
| Georgia | 78% | 70% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 18% |
| Hawaii | 79% | 65% | 14% | 10% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 11% |
| Idaho | 83% | 74% | 8% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 13% |
| Illinois | 72% | 65% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 19% |
| Indiana | 84% | 77% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 12% |
| Iowa | 82% | 74% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 13% |
| Kansas | 82% | 74% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 14% |
| Kentucky | 85% | 76% | 8% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 12% |
| Louisiana | 88% | 79% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 8% |
| Maine | 77% | 69% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 4% | 0% | 1% | 18% |
| Maryland | 69% | 62% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 24% |
| Massachusetts | 66% | 60% | 6% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 5% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 24% |
| Michigan | 80% | 73% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 16% |
| Minnesota | 74% | 67% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 21% |
| Mississippi | 91% | 83% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 6% |
| Missouri | 82% | 74% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 15% |
| Montana | 80% | 71% | 9% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 14% |
| Nebraska | 83% | 75% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 13% |
| Nevada | 81% | 70% | 10% | 8% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 13% |
| New Hampshire | 77% | 70% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 19% |
| New Jersey | 67% | 60% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 6% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 22% |
| New Mexico | 81% | 72% | 9% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 15% |
| New York | 55% | 49% | 6% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 17% | 5% | 1% | 2% | 20% |
| North Carolina | 78% | 70% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 19% |
| North Dakota | 86% | 79% | 8% | 5% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 9% |
| Ohio | 81% | 74% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 15% |
| Oklahoma | 86% | 77% | 9% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 10% |
| Oregon | 70% | 63% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 23% |
| Pennsylvania | 74% | 67% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 19% |
| Rhode Island | 77% | 69% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 2% | 18% |
| South Carolina | 85% | 77% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 84% | 76% | 8% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 11% |
| Tennessee | 83% | 76% | 8% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 14% |
| Texas | 80% | 71% | 9% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 16% |
| Utah | 75% | 66% | 9% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 20% |
| Vermont | 75% | 67% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 20% |
| Virginia | 73% | 66% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 22% |
| Washington | 69% | 62% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 24% |
| West Virginia | 86% | 77% | 9% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 10% |
| Wisconsin | 80% | 73% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 15% |
| Wyoming | 85% | 76% | 9% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 9% |
In contrast to having the lowest car commuting rate, New York has the highest rate of public transportation commuters (17 percent) of any state. But if you’re part of the 55 percent who drive, you should take advantage of some cheap New York car insurance.
By City
The U.S. Census does not collect MSA-specific information on modes of transportation, only travel time. However, the data does show what percentage of a metropolitan statistical area’s residents take public transportation for their commute, and New York City had the highest amount. About a third of the city’s residents used public transit to commute in 2019, with San Francisco, California, coming in second.
| MSA | Total public transportation commuters in 2019 | Percent of all workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 3,000,640 | 32% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 461,832 | 19% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 353,924 | 13% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 440,972 | 13% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 584,804 | 12% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 224,965 | 11% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 49,354 | 11% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 282,412 | 9% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 35,375 | 7% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 85,160 | 7% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 69,104 | 6% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 82,685 | 6% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 310,932 | 5% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 47,745 | 5% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 88,051 | 5% |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 73,229 | 5% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | 88,881 | 3% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 31,231 | 3% |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 29,006 | 3% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | 83,142 | 3% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 47,478 | 3% |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 65,870 | 2% |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 42,925 | 2% |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 28,450 | 1% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 48,522 | 1% |
| All other metro areas | 1,022,000 | 1% |
Dallas had the lowest public transportation rates as only 1 percent of the residents used public transportation to commute in 2019, leaving the majority to worry about finding cheap Texas car insurance.
Which Mode is Safest?
Scheduled airlines are the safest way to travel, according to 2020 data from the National Safety Council. Passenger vehicles, on the other hand, are the most dangerous form of transportation, with 0.56 deaths per 100 million passenger miles.
| Mode of transportation | Death rate per 100 million passenger miles in 2020 |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks, vans and SUVs) | 0.56 |
| Railroad passenger trains | 0.03 |
| Buses | 0.02 |
| Scheduled airlines | 0.002 |
Stretch Commuting
The BTS defines stretch commuting as commutes that are at least 50 miles one way. In 2017, it studied stretch commuters specifically, gathering some interesting findings.
| Length of commute in miles | Percentage of stretch commuters in the U.S. in 2017 |
|---|---|
| 50-74 | 62% |
| 75-99 | 19% |
| 100-124 | 7% |
| 125-199 | 6% |
| 200 and over | 6% |
| Days per month of stretch commuting | |
| 1-4 | 40% |
| 5-15 | 27% |
| 16 and over | 33% |
| Mode of transportation | |
| Personal vehicle | 96% |
| Air travel | 1% |
| Other | 5% |
| Gender | |
| Male | 84% |
| Female | 16% |
| Income | |
| Less than $25,000 | 13% |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 29% |
| $50,000 or more | 58% |
| Occupation | |
| Manufacturing/construction | 44% |
| Professional/managerial/technical | 40% |
| Sales/service | 13% |
| Clerical/administrative | 3% |
The average stretch commuter made this journey one to four times a month. Ninety-six percent used personal vehicles while 84 percent of stretch commuters were male. Stretch commuters had disproportionately high incomes, according to the data. While people who made $50,000 or more were only 43 percent of the population in 2017, they made up 58 percent of stretch commuters.
Stretch commuters also worked in the manufacturing/construction industries disproportionately — a sector making up 21 percent of the U.S. population but 44 percent of stretch commuters.
Commuting Over the Years
The average American spent 12 percent more time commuting in 2019 than 2006. However, the pandemic changed everything, and the U.S. Census estimates that, in 2021, the average commute time was 25 minutes, back down to where it was in 2006. What do Americans do with this extra time they gain by having shorter commutes? We’ll explore this further down.
International Commutes
Believe it or not, some people cross country lines to do their jobs. International commuters maintain a permanent residence in their home countries but work abroad on a semi-permanent or permanent basis for two to three years. Often, they travel to their country of work weekly, every other week or every three weeks.
As of February 2023, there are very few studies on international commuters in the U.S. However, the existing research is clear that having commutes this long promotes fatigue, stress and conflict with both work and family. Another finding is that international commuters are most likely to be young, educated males.2 This is one type of commute that most people don’t envy.
How COVID-19 and Working From Home Affects Commuting
Aside from devastating the health and lives of millions worldwide, one of COVID-19’s largest effects was on the way people work. In 2019, 6 percent of U.S. workers ages 16 and older worked from home, about 9 million people. By 2021, that number was estimated to be 18 percent, a threefold increase to 27.6 million people.
Because more people were working from home in 2021, commuter public transportation use decreased by 40 percent, driving by 11 percent, walking by 33 percent and biking by nearly 100 percent.
Cities like San Francisco and San Jose, California, had the highest rates of remote workers, with about 35 percent in 2021. These cities are hubs of technology and information sectors, enabling mass remote work.
That said, global consulting firm McKinsey estimates that in 2022, remote work became even more common, with 58 percent of the U.S. workforce working remotely either full or part time — a total of 92 million people.3
| Remote work options | Percentage of U.S. job holders in 2022 | Number of U.S. job holders in 2022 in millions |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | 35% | 55 |
| Part time or on occasion | 23% | 36 |
| Not offered | 42% | 66 |
On average, U.S. adults save 55 minutes a day by working remotely. Forty-two percent give that time right back to their primary or secondary job, 35 percent use this time for leisure and 8 percent use it for caregiving. Additionally, 21 percent of Americans looking for new jobs place flexible work arrangements, like working remotely, in their top three motivators.4
While many people appreciate a total or partial lack of commute, the increase in remote workers could negatively impact the commercial cores of cities as well as the commercial real estate industry. It remains to be seen how long the pandemic will affect commuting in the U.S. and if remote work is here to stay.
The Effects of Long Commutes
Like most things in life, long commutes have both negative and positive effects. However, it’s fair to say that the negatives outweigh the positives here.
Environmental Impact
It’s clear that long commutes are bad for the environment, particularly if you’re driving (and driving alone is even worse). Driving causes smog, nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector contributes 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and half of this is from personal vehicles, according to the Appalachian Mountain Club.5
Financial Impact
Long commutes are also expensive, not just for drivers but for the companies that employ them. A study published by the Harvard Business School focused on an inventor firm over a five-year period found that the opportunity cost of commuting may exceed the worker’s hourly wage, meaning workers were spending more to commute than they would make at work during the same time period.
Another factor for drivers is the price of gas. AAA found that, on average, driving gas-powered cars costs 17.99 cents per mile, with an average per gallon cost of $3.99 in 2022. Electric vehicles will also hit your wallet at a rate of 13.9 cents per kilowatt hour.6
Physical Impact
Assuming your commute takes place in a car as it does for the majority of Americans, it could cause negative physical health effects, such as:
- Tightness in hip flexors
- Lower back pain
- Spine damage
- Worse cardiovascular health
- More exposure to pollution
- Less time to exercise
- Difficulty sleeping, which could lead to diabetes/obesity
Mental Health Impact
Long daily commutes can affect your mental health as well as your physical health. They’re known to increase stress, make it less likely you’ll want to drive for social purposes and decrease job satisfaction.7
However, an article published in Harvard Business Review noted some positive effects of commuting on one’s mental health. Commuting is a structured ritual that allows people to separate work from home, share the commuting experience with co-workers and prepare for the day. A drawback of working from home instead of commuting is the lack of separation between work and home life, which can lead to burnout.
Work Impact
Meanwhile, commuting may make people less productive workers. Remember that firm of inventors Harvard Business School studied? It found that commuting had an inverse relationship with productivity.
For every six miles a commute increased, there was a 5 percent decrease in the number of patents developed and a 7 percent decrease in their quality. The effects were even worse for inventors in the top 10 percent of their field.8
While there’s still more research needed on this topic, it’s generally agreed upon that although short commutes can have their benefits, long commutes are bad for the environment and the physical, mental and work health of commuters.
Conclusion
Commutes have changed a ton in the past few years, so it’ll be interesting to see what the data for 2022, 2023 and beyond say. For more information on transportation in the U.S., read our statistics on car ownership.
Methodology
We used data from the following third parties in this report on commuting in the U.S.:
- Appalachian Mountain Club
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- Harvard Business School
- Keck Medicine of USC
- Harvard Business Review
- McKinsey
- National Bureau of Economic Research
- Research Handbook of Expatriates
- U.S. Census
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of trips are commuting?
According to 2017 data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, commutes count for 15 percent of all daily trips (defined as a trip that takes place in a single day).
What factors increase commute times?
According to 2021 estimates from the U.S. Census, the following factors increase commute times:
- Sex: While males and females make up half the population each, men account for 57 percent of all aggregated travel time to work, while women account for 43 percent of the time.
- Time of departure: Those who leave between 7 a.m. and 7:29 a.m. spend the most time commuting per year, followed by those who leave from 6 a.m. to 6:29 a.m. and those who leave between 8 a.m. to 8:29 a.m.
- Where you live: Your city and state can increase your commute times. For example, the state of New York has the longest average commute time of 31 minutes, while South Dakota has just a 17-minute commute on average. Additionally, particular cities like New York City have longer commutes than cities like Rochester, even though they’re in the same state.
- Mode of transportation: Certain modes of transportation tend to be quicker than others. Driving, for example, is typically faster than taking a train, depending on your location.
- Percentage of remote workers: The more remote workers in your city, especially a city that depends heavily on motor vehicle transportation, the faster your commute will be.
What problems do commuters face?
Commuters face problems like:
- Air pollution
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Fuel costs
- Worsened physical and mental health
- Decreased productivity at work
How long is too long for a daily commute?
How long is too long for a daily commute is a personal decision, as there’s no universally ideal commute time. Rather, individuals should assess whether their commutes are too long based on their physical and mental health, along with their job performance. If a commute is impacting your life negatively, it’s too long.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people are ditching their commutes.
Travel Time to Work in the United States: 2019. American Community Survey Reports. (2021, Mar).
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/acs/acs-47.pdfInternational Business Travelers, Short-Term Assignees and International Commuters. ResearchGate. (2017, Jan).
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305597604_International_Business_Travelers_Short-Term_Assignees_and_International_CommutersAmericans are embracing flexible work—and they want more of it. McKinsey & Company. (2022, Jun).
https://www.mckinsey.com/Time Savings When Working from Home. National Bureau of Economic Research. (2023, Jan).
https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w30866/w30866.pdfHow your Commute Affects Air Pollution and Climate Change. Be Outdoors Appalachian Mtn Club. (2021, Feb 1).
https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/conservation-and-climate/how-your-commute-affects-air-pollution-and-climate-change/Your Driving Costs. AAA. (2022).
https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-YourDrivingCosts-FactSheet-7-1.pdf5 Ways Your Commute Affects Your Health. Keck Medicine of USC. (2019, Jul 29).
https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/commuting-and-your-health/Commuting and innovation: Are closer inventors more productive? Journal of Urban Economics. (2019, Feb 17).
https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/1-s2.0-S0094119020300711-main%20(4)_8b1ae5e2-a615-4908-a5e6-5774884c5f7c.pdf