Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Highest Carpooling Rates
Carpooling has declined dramatically since its peak in the 1980s, but it remains an important commuting method in certain states. Hawaii, Georgia, and several Southern states have the highest carpooling rates, often driven by limited public transit alternatives, family members commuting together, or workers sharing rides to remote job sites. Carpooling reduces vehicle miles traveled, congestion, and carbon emissions while saving money on gas and parking. Despite these benefits, carpooling has steadily lost ground to driving alone as Americans prioritize schedule flexibility and the widespread availability of cheap fuel. The rise of ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft has created a new form of quasi-carpooling, though their impact on traditional carpooling statistics is still debated. States and cities hoping to reduce congestion and emissions are experimenting with HOV lanes, carpool incentive programs, and employer-subsidized vanpool services to reverse the decline.
Key Findings
- 1District of Columbia leads with a carpooling rate of 10.0%, followed by Alaska (7.5%) and New York (5.7%).
- 2The gap between #1 District of Columbia and #51 Alabama (1.1%) is 8.9 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 2.3% (Kansas at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: District of Columbia, Alaska, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, Wyoming, Pennsylvania.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Carpooling Rates
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Carpool % | Drive Alone | Avg Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 3.4% | 0.9% | 18.5 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 2.7% | 1.2% | 22.2 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 2.6% | 0.6% | 26.6 |
| 4 | Washington | 3.1% | 4.0% | 27 |
| 5 | Virginia | 2.1% | 2.6% | 27.6 |
| 6 | Vermont | 4.3% | 0.9% | 23.4 |
| 7 | Utah | 2.0% | 1.7% | 22 |
| 8 | Texas | 1.4% | 1.0% | 26.7 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 1.2% | 0.5% | 25.7 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 3.2% | 0.5% | 17.6 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 1.7% | 0.4% | 25.6 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 2.9% | 1.9% | 25.5 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 3.3% | 3.9% | 26.6 |
| 14 | Oregon | 3.3% | 2.6% | 23.2 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 1.7% | 0.3% | 22.4 |
| 16 | Ohio | 2.0% | 1.1% | 23.6 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 3.2% | 0.4% | 18 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 1.6% | 0.7% | 25.1 |
| 19 | New York | 5.7% | 22.4% | 32.8 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2.0% | 0.7% | 23.2 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 2.6% | 8.5% | 30.9 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 2.2% | 0.6% | 26.8 |
| 23 | Nevada | 1.5% | 2.4% | 24.8 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 2.3% | 0.5% | 19.1 |
| 25 | Montana | 4.0% | 0.6% | 19.2 |
| 26 | Missouri | 1.8% | 0.9% | 23.7 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 1.3% | 0.3% | 25.6 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 2.5% | 2.1% | 23.1 |
| 29 | Michigan | 2.0% | 1.0% | 24.4 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 4.2% | 7.0% | 29.3 |
| 31 | Maryland | 2.0% | 4.9% | 31.5 |
| 32 | Maine | 3.5% | 0.5% | 24.4 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 1.9% | 0.9% | 25.8 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 2.0% | 0.7% | 24 |
| 35 | Kansas | 2.3% | 0.4% | 19.8 |
| 36 | Iowa | 2.9% | 0.7% | 19.8 |
| 37 | Indiana | 2.0% | 0.7% | 24 |
| 38 | Illinois | 2.7% | 6.4% | 28.1 |
| 39 | Idaho | 2.7% | 0.6% | 21.6 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 4.2% | 4.1% | 26.4 |
| 41 | Georgia | 1.3% | 1.3% | 28.3 |
| 42 | Florida | 1.4% | 1.2% | 28 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 10.0% | 22.3% | 30.3 |
| 44 | Delaware | 2.0% | 1.8% | 26.1 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 2.5% | 3.4% | 26.6 |
| 46 | Colorado | 2.5% | 1.9% | 25.5 |
| 47 | California | 2.4% | 3.2% | 29 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 1.5% | 0.3% | 22.3 |
| 49 | Arizona | 1.7% | 1.2% | 25.5 |
| 50 | Alaska | 7.5% | 1.0% | 19.5 |
| 51 | Alabama | 1.1% | 0.3% | 25.4 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 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
District of Columbia has the highest carpooling rate at 10.0%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Alaska and New York round out the top three.
Alabama has the lowest carpooling rate at 1.1%. Tennessee is second-lowest at 1.2%.
The median across all 51 states is 2.3%. 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) 2023 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 data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 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.