Worst commutes in California
The average American spends nearly an hour every day in a single-occupancy vehicle getting to and from work. For those who live in big, dense cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, the time wasted sitting in traffic increases substantially, but which cities have the worst commutes?
Stacker has collected data from the U.S Census Bureau to determine which California cities spend the most time traveling to work. The data, from 2017 (the most recent available) includes commuters 16 years of age or older and only people who do not work remotely.
Cities were ranked by average commute, and any ties were broken by commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time. Whether driving or taking public transport, train delays, bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion, and unexpected construction all contribute to endless frustration and bouts of road rage all over the country.
Read on to find out the worst California cities to live in if you are especially susceptible to traffic-induced anger.
RELATED: Best commutes in California
#25. Los Angeles County (Northwest)—Santa Clarita
- Average one-way commute time to work: 34.5 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 19.1%
- Workers 16 years and over: 93,443
#24. Solano County (Southwest)—Vallejo and Benicia
- Average one-way commute time to work: 34.5 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 21.3%
- Workers 16 years and over: 67,201
#23. Los Angeles County (South Central)—LA (South Central/Westmont)
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.1 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 16.6%
- Workers 16 years and over: 70,092
#22. Contra Costa County (Central)—Concord (South), Walnut Creek (East), and Clayton
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.2 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 21.7%
- Workers 16 years and over: 58,485
#21. Riverside County (Southwest)—Temecula
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.2 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 24.4%
- Workers 16 years and over: 61,383
#20. San Bernardino County (West Central)—Hesperia and Apple Valley
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.3 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 20.3%
- Workers 16 years and over: 61,011
#19. San Bernardino County (West Central)—Victorville and Adelanto
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.4 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 22.5%
- Workers 16 years and over: 53,364
#18. Riverside County (Northwest)—Jurupa Valley and Eastvale
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.7 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 20.8%
- Workers 16 years and over: 69,137
#17. San Francisco County (Central)—Sunset District (North)
- Average one-way commute time to work: 35.9 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 15.8%
- Workers 16 years and over: 64,528
#16. Riverside County (West Central)—Corona (Northwest) and Norco
- Average one-way commute time to work: 36.1 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 23.1%
- Workers 16 years and over: 68,302
#15. Contra Costa County (South)—San Ramon and Danville
- Average one-way commute time to work: 36.1 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 23.3%
- Workers 16 years and over: 61,380
#14. San Bernardino County (Southwest)—Phelan, Lake Arrowhead, and Big Bear
- Average one-way commute time to work: 36.2 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 20.3%
- Workers 16 years and over: 44,357
#13. San Bernardino County (Southwest)—Chino and Chino Hills
- Average one-way commute time to work: 36.5 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 20.9%
- Workers 16 years and over: 71,060
#12. Contra Costa County (far Northwest)—Richmond (North), Hercules, and El Cerrito
- Average one-way commute time to work: 36.8 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 20.7%
- Workers 16 years and over: 60,857
#11. Riverside County (West Central)—Corona (South), Woodcrest, and Home Gardens
- Average one-way commute time to work: 36.8 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 22%
- Workers 16 years and over: 50,046
#10. Riverside County (Southwest)—Murrieta and Wildomar
- Average one-way commute time to work: 37.3 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 26.9%
- Workers 16 years and over: 58,074
#9. Riverside County (Southwest)—Hemet and East Hemet
- Average one-way commute time to work: 37.8 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 24.7%
- Workers 16 years and over: 55,644
#8. Los Angeles County (North/unincorporated)—Castaic
- Average one-way commute time to work: 38.6 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 24.9%
- Workers 16 years and over: 58,148
#7. Contra Costa County (North Central)—Pittsburg and Concord (North and East)
- Average one-way commute time to work: 39.3 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 26.4%
- Workers 16 years and over: 58,598
#6. Riverside County (West Central)—Perris, Temescal Valley, and Mead Valley
- Average one-way commute time to work: 39.6 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 25.2%
- Workers 16 years and over: 48,582
#5. San Joaquin County (South)—Tracy, Manteca, and Lathrop
- Average one-way commute time to work: 41.1 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 31.1%
- Workers 16 years and over: 91,735
#4. Riverside County (Southwest)—Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Canyon Lake
- Average one-way commute time to work: 42.2 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 29.2%
- Workers 16 years and over: 80,137
#3. Los Angeles County (North Central)—Palmdale
- Average one-way commute time to work: 42.2 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 34.6%
- Workers 16 years and over: 63,587
#2. Contra Costa County (East)—Brentwood and Oakley
- Average one-way commute time to work: 43.1 minutes
- Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 34.1%
- Workers 16 years and over: 51,973
#1. Contra Costa County (Northeast)—Antioch
Average one-way commute time to work: 45.5 minutes
Workers with one-way commutes over 60 minutes: 33.8%
Workers 16 years and over: 49,562
