Best commutes in Illinois
Time is a valuable commodity; most people living in the United States can agree they spend way too much of it sitting in traffic. The average American spends nearly an hour in a single-occupancy vehicle getting to and from work each day.
Though congestion and long, complicated commutes are often accepted as an unavoidable part of life in places like New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., some cities boast relatively quick and easy transits. Which cities in the country have the shortest and least complicated commutes?
Stacker has collected data from the U.S Census Bureau to determine the best commutes in eight different states, including Illinois. Stacker ranked the cities by average commute, and any ties were broken by commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time. The most recent data from 2017 includes commuters 16 years of age or older, and it excludes people who work remotely.
Read on to find out the fastest and easiest routes to help you save time and energy. The data might even help you choose which city you move to next.
#20. Madison County (West)—Granite City, Alton, Wood River Cities, and Godfrey Village
Average commute: 23.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4.9%
Worker population 16 and older: 64,097
#19. Monroe, Randolph, Washington, Jefferson, and Marion Counties
Average commute: 23.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 6.9%
Worker population 16 and older: 69,316
#18. Stephenson and Ogle Counties
Average commute: 23.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 6.4%
Worker population 16 and older: 45,204
#17. Clark, Jasper, Crawford, Lawrence, Richland, Clay, and Wayne Counties
Average commute: 22.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 46,713
#16. South and Southeast Illinois
Average commute: 22.7 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 7.8%
Worker population 16 and older: 52,595
#15. Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, and Lee Counties
Average commute: 22.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.3%
Worker population 16 and older: 58,660
#14. LaSalle County
Average commute: 22.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.3%
Worker population 16 and older: 49,752
#13. Henry, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Hancock, McDonough, and Fulton Counties
Average commute: 22.2 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 77,774
#12. Montgomery, Bond, Clinton, Fayette, and Effingham Counties
Average commute: 22 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 7.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 62,032
#11. Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties
Average commute: 21.2 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5%
Worker population 16 and older: 66,551
#10. Sangamon County—Springfield City
Average commute: 21.1 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4%
Worker population 16 and older: 93,968
#9. Knox, Stark, Bureau, Marshall, and Woodford Counties
Average commute: 20.9 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4.6%
Worker population 16 and older: 66,409
#8. Adams, Pike, Brown, Schuyler, and Mason Counties
Average commute: 20.2 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5%
Worker population 16 and older: 50,087
#7. Douglas, Edgar, Coles, and Cumberland Counties
Average commute: 19.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 46,180
#6. Tazewell County
Average commute: 19.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 63,092
#5. Peoria County—Peoria City
Average commute: 19.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 82,599
#4. Rock Island County
Average commute: 18.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.7%
Worker population 16 and older: 67,410
#3. Macon County—Decatur City
Average commute: 18.2 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.8%
Worker population 16 and older: 47,235
#2. McLean County
Average commute: 17.9 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.4%
Worker population 16 and older: 90,064
#1. Champaign County—Champaign and Urbana Cities
Average commute: 17.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.6%
Worker population 16 and older: 101,462
