Long commutes are a part of daily life for millions of Americans. In some states, a significant share of workers spend over an hour travelling each way to work. This is influenced by traffic congestion, housing costs, and job concentration in major cities. Understanding where the longest and shortest commutes occur can help you plan moves, careers, or even just daily routines.
Which State Has the Longest Commute?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 1-Year Estimates, New York has the longest commutes in the country.
Commute times are a problem primarily found in a shortlist of the United States, especially those located in the Northeast. Because of densely packed populations, it is not as easy to get around.
On the other hand, Massachusetts and California complete the top five by reflecting congestion in Greater Boston, the Bay Area and Los Angeles regions. Here, jobs are often clustered in major cities, while housing stretches far into the suburbs and outer areas. This mismatch pushes many workers into journeys that last over an hour each way, day after day.
| Rank | State | Share of Commuters With 60+ Minute One-Way Commute |
| 1 | New York | 17.2% |
| 2 | New Jersey | 15.2% |
| 3 | Maryland | 14.5% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 13.3% |
| 5 | California | 12.1% |
| 6 | Georgia | 11.3% |
| 7 | Illinois | 10.4% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 10.0% |
| 9 | Virginia | 10.0% |
| 10 | West Virginia | 9.8% |
| — | US Average | 9.3% |
Source: Visual Capitalist
Which State Has the Shortest Commute?
On the other end of the spectrum, states in the Great Plains have the shortest commutes.
| State | Share of Commuters With 60+ Minute One-Way Commute |
| Nebraska | 4.0% |
| Kansas | 4.0% |
| North Dakota | 4.3% |
| Iowa | 4.6% |
| South Dakota | 4.8% |
Source: Visual Capitalist
Here, smaller cities, less congestion, and more evenly spread jobs make commuting easier. Interestingly, the state of Rhode Island is dense but has short commuting times (8.6%), and this is because it is small. This indicates that the geographic aspect is of equal importance as the density of the state.
Who Has the Longest Commute in the World?
While U.S. states show wide differences, the world’s longest commutes are often in megacities. For example:
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Istanbul, Turkey, and Mumbai, India, report average daily travel times of over 90 minutes one way.
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In the U.S., commuters in New York City and surrounding suburbs often face similar challenges with traffic and public transport strain.
What is Considered an Extreme Commute?
An extreme commute is usually defined as travelling over 90 minutes one way. Factors include:
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Traffic congestion in large metro areas
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Distance from affordable housing to job centres
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Public transport limitations
About 9.3% of all U.S. commuters travel more than an hour each day, showing that long commutes are a major feature of American urban life.
What are the Key Takeaways?
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New York leads the nation in long commutes at 17.2%.
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New Jersey and Maryland follow closely, reflecting flows into NYC and D.C.
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Massachusetts and California round out the top five, highlighting Boston and Bay Area/LA traffic.
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Shortest commutes are in Nebraska, Kansas, and North Dakota.
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Commute length is affected by population density, geography, and housing patterns.
You may also like to read: List of Most Walkable Cities in the United States
Long commutes are not just inconvenient, as they affect quality of life, stress, and productivity. Therefore, by getting to know where they are worst can help with urban planning, personal choices, and career decisions can be very helpful.
https://www.jagranjosh.com/us/explainers/list-of-most-walkable-us-cities-2025-1860001818
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