Census ACS 5-Year · 500 counties
US Counties With Longest Commutes
Counties with the longest average commutes are typically distant suburbs of major job centers, where workers trade housing affordability for daily travel time. Commuter counties surrounding New York City, Washington DC, and the San Francisco Bay Area have mean commute times exceeding 35 minutes. Long commutes reduce workers' available time, increase stress and transportation costs, and impose environmental costs through carbon emissions. The remote-work shift has reduced average commute times in some counties but exurban residents still face the longest travel times when they do go in.
Key Findings
- 1Calhoun County, IL leads with a mean commute time of 49.4 min, followed by Mora County, NM (47.1 min) and Bronx County, NY (43.9 min).
- 2Webster County, WV ranks last at 30.2 min, while Calhoun County, IL leads at 49.4 min.
- 3The national median across all states is 32.8 min (Monmouth County, NJ at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Calhoun County, IL, Mora County, NM, Bronx County, NY, Greene County, MS, Pike County, PA, Richmond County, NY, Surry County, VA, Queens County, NY, Charles County, MD, Buckingham County, VA.
Full Ranking: US Counties With Longest Commutes
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Calhoun County, IL has the highest mean commute time at 49.4 min, according to latest Census ACS data. Mora County, NM and Bronx County, NY round out the top three.
Webster County, WV has the lowest mean commute time at 30.2 min. Claiborne Parish, LA is second-lowest at 30.2 min.
The median across all 500 states is 32.8 min. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.