Counties with the most super commuters in Iowa
There are more than 283 million vehicles on the road in the United States, and many of those cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles are used to ferry people to and from their homes and jobs during their daily commutes. A small but growing number of people are walking and biking to work, particularly in compact college towns. Many more take public transportation, especially in major cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Boston, and Seattle—but nationwide, public transit accounts for only about 5% of daily commutes.
The overwhelming majority of people still drive to and from work every day, and the vast majority of those car commuters drive alone—fewer than 10% of Americans carpool. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average one-way commute in the United States has grown to a record 26.9 minutes. That's just shy of an hour a day that average Americans squander behind the wheel, not at home with their families, and instead, burning gas and putting miles on their cars.
For some Americans, however, the commute to work is far from average. A phenomenon known as super commuting has emerged and grown in recent years. Super commuters spend 90 minutes or more—each way—chasing their paychecks every day. The biggest percentage of super commuters work in the extraction industry, with workers pursuing lucrative jobs in remote mines, oil fields, and other energy operations. Many more, however, have been priced out of expensive housing in urban metro areas where high-paying jobs are located, far away from their less-expensive county of residence.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most super commuters in Iowa using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of workers with a commute over 90 minutes, based on 2020 5-year estimates. Keep reading to see where in your state people are spending the most time going to and from work every day.
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#50. Jones County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.7%
- Average commute time: 25.5 minutes
--- 6.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 44.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.4%), carpooled (10.5%), walked to work (2.9%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (10.5%)
#49. Audubon County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.1%
- Average commute time: 18.8 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.3%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (8.0%)
#48. Lucas County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.2%
- Average commute time: 20.5 minutes
--- 1.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.3%), carpooled (8.8%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (3.7%)
#47. Black Hawk County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.1%
- Average commute time: 16.6 minutes
--- 2.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 7.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.2%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (5.7%)
#46. Iowa County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.7%
- Average commute time: 23.8 minutes
--- 4.3 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 43.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.9%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (5.4%)
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#45. Fayette County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.4%
- Average commute time: 19.5 minutes
--- 0.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 22.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.1%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (7.1%)
#44. Calhoun County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.3%
- Average commute time: 19.7 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.7%), carpooled (5.9%), walked to work (1.9%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.4%)
#43. Adair County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.4%
- Average commute time: 23.5 minutes
--- 4.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.5%), carpooled (11.1%), walked to work (2.9%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.9%)
#42. Tama County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.9%
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
--- 2.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 43.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.5%), carpooled (9.6%), walked to work (3.9%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.1%)
#41. Chickasaw County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.9%
- Average commute time: 19.2 minutes
--- 0.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.5%), carpooled (6.5%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (5.2%)
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#40. Harrison County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.6%
- Average commute time: 27.9 minutes
--- 8.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.7%), carpooled (7.1%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.9%)
#39. Marshall County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.7%
- Average commute time: 18.3 minutes
--- 1.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 20.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.1%), carpooled (13.7%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.7%)
#38. Benton County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.9%
- Average commute time: 24.9 minutes
--- 5.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 57.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.5%), carpooled (7.5%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.5%)
#37. Bremer County
--- 60+ minute commute: 2.7%
- Average commute time: 20.6 minutes
--- 1.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.5%), carpooled (6.6%), walked to work (6.0%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (8.2%)
#36. Jefferson County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.6%
- Average commute time: 17.2 minutes
--- 2.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 9.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (71.5%), carpooled (9.9%), walked to work (3.9%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (12.3%)
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#35. Cherokee County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.2%
- Average commute time: 18.2 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.6%), carpooled (8.2%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (8.5%)
#34. Monona County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.4%
- Average commute time: 21.5 minutes
--- 2.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 25.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.8%), carpooled (8.5%), walked to work (2.3%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (9.9%)
#33. Worth County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.0%
- Average commute time: 22.5 minutes
--- 3.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 21.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 50.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.8%), carpooled (7.2%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (7.3%)
#32. Cerro Gordo County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.6%
- Average commute time: 17.2 minutes
--- 2.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 10.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.1%), carpooled (8.5%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.2%)
#31. Madison County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.7%
- Average commute time: 27.2 minutes
--- 7.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 50.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.5%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (10.6%)
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#30. Keokuk County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.9%
- Average commute time: 25 minutes
--- 5.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 21.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 51.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.9%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (4.1%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (6.0%)
#29. Jackson County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.9%
- Average commute time: 24.3 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 22.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.3%), carpooled (5.9%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (6.8%)
#28. Winneshiek County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.2%
- Average commute time: 18.2 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 11.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (69.1%), carpooled (5.8%), walked to work (13.2%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (10.1%)
#27. Greene County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.7%
- Average commute time: 21.5 minutes
--- 2.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 22.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.1%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (4.7%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (4.8%)
#26. Clarke County
--- 60+ minute commute: 11.4%
- Average commute time: 25.5 minutes
--- 6.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 32.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.6%), carpooled (12.1%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.2%)
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#25. Hardin County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.0%
- Average commute time: 19.7 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.9%), carpooled (6.0%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (6.2%)
#24. Union County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.2%
- Average commute time: 16.4 minutes
--- 3.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 16.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.8%), carpooled (10.5%), walked to work (7.3%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (3.7%)
#23. Humboldt County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.5%
- Average commute time: 17.8 minutes
--- 1.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.6%), carpooled (10.3%), walked to work (2.3%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.1%)
#22. Cass County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Average commute time: 18.1 minutes
--- 1.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 12.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.8%), carpooled (6.8%), walked to work (5.4%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (6.4%)
#21. Washington County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.7%
- Average commute time: 22.4 minutes
--- 2.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.7%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.1%)
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#20. Grundy County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.8%
- Average commute time: 22.1 minutes
--- 2.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 49.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.1%), carpooled (4.2%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (9.5%)
#19. Wapello County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.3%
- Average commute time: 18.7 minutes
--- 0.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 21.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 19.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.6%), carpooled (10.3%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (3.0%)
#18. Monroe County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.6%
- Average commute time: 24.3 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 27.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.2%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (7.4%)
#17. Guthrie County
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.4%
- Average commute time: 28.2 minutes
--- 8.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 49.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.1%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.9%)
#16. Davis County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Average commute time: 22.2 minutes
--- 2.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 32.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.2%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (8.7%)
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#15. Allamakee County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Average commute time: 23.2 minutes
--- 3.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 26.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 19.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.1%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (4.1%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.0%)
#14. Van Buren County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.2%
- Average commute time: 23.4 minutes
--- 3.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (71.3%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.9%), worked from home (11.5%)
#13. Emmet County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.4%
- Average commute time: 19.3 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 15.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.6%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (3.1%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (10.2%)
#12. Delaware County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.0%
- Average commute time: 22.2 minutes
--- 2.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 32.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.6%), carpooled (6.2%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (8.0%)
#11. Hancock County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.9%
- Average commute time: 19.7 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 33.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.7%), carpooled (6.5%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.9%)
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#10. Appanoose County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.0%
- Average commute time: 21.2 minutes
--- 1.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.4%), carpooled (8.8%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (4.0%)
#9. Osceola County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Average commute time: 21.3 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.0%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (6.8%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.1%)
#8. Ida County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.9%
- Average commute time: 20.6 minutes
--- 1.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 20.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.5%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (9.6%)
#7. Howard County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.4%
- Average commute time: 22.3 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 29.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 23.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (72.3%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (6.2%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (9.7%)
#6. Clayton County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.2%
- Average commute time: 22.3 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.3%), carpooled (7.9%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (8.1%)
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#5. Adams County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.7%
- Average commute time: 20.9 minutes
--- 1.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.3%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (4.1%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (7.8%)
#4. Wayne County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.9%
- Average commute time: 23.4 minutes
--- 3.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.1%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (5.6%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (4.9%)
#3. Taylor County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Average commute time: 22.6 minutes
--- 3.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 39.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.3%), carpooled (15.3%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (4.8%)
#2. Decatur County
--- 60+ minute commute: 14.2%
- Average commute time: 26.8 minutes
--- 7.3 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 32.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (71.2%), carpooled (12.3%), walked to work (7.6%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (8.0%)
#1. Ringgold County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.5%
- Average commute time: 24.2 minutes
--- 4.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.0%), carpooled (4.8%), walked to work (7.9%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (6.8%)
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