Charles County has the worst commute in Maryland
Commuting easily ranks as one of the least enjoyable parts of a person's day. Commuters encounter more physical health problems, and low-income commuters are less likely to gain financial stability—among a host of other negative impacts. And yet, America's commutes keep getting longer as people move farther away from the office, according to census data.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the worst commutes in Maryland using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by longest average commute time in 2020. Think you have a long trip to work? Read on to compare it against the worst commutes statewide.
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#24. Wicomico County
- Average Commute Time: 22 minutes
--- 11.0 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 16.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.5%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (4.9%)
#23. Allegany County
- Average Commute Time: 22.4 minutes
--- 10.6 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 5.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.8%), carpooled (9.5%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (4.2%)
#22. Garrett County
- Average Commute Time: 23.7 minutes
--- 9.3 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 9.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.0%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (7.9%)
#21. Worcester County
- Average Commute Time: 24.1 minutes
--- 8.9 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.8%), carpooled (7.3%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (2.5%), worked from home (5.5%)
#20. Somerset County
- Average Commute Time: 24.2 minutes
--- 8.8 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.1%), carpooled (10.8%), walked to work (6.0%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.3%)
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#19. Dorchester County
- Average Commute Time: 27.3 minutes
--- 5.7 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.6%), carpooled (12.1%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.6%)
#18. Talbot County
- Average Commute Time: 27.4 minutes
--- 5.6 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 13.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.5%), carpooled (7.6%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (1.2%), worked from home (9.6%)
#17. Kent County
- Average Commute Time: 28.2 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 18.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 19.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.5%), carpooled (7.0%), walked to work (7.1%), public transportation (1.2%), worked from home (9.9%)
#16. Baltimore County
- Average Commute Time: 29.8 minutes
--- 3.2 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.2%), carpooled (8.5%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (4.3%), worked from home (6.8%)
#15. Washington County
- Average Commute Time: 30.2 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 13.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 20.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.0%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (7.4%)
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#14. Cecil County
- Average Commute Time: 30.6 minutes
--- 2.4 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 11.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.9%), carpooled (10.2%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (4.8%)
#13. Howard County
- Average Commute Time: 31.1 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.2%), carpooled (6.5%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (3.2%), worked from home (11.0%)
#12. Baltimore
- Average Commute Time: 31.1 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (59.2%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (6.2%), public transportation (16.1%), worked from home (7.1%)
#11. Anne Arundel County
- Average Commute Time: 31.2 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 13.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.2%), carpooled (7.3%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (3.3%), worked from home (8.3%)
#10. St. Mary's County
- Average Commute Time: 31.7 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 16.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 22.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.0%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (7.2%)
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#9. Harford County
- Average Commute Time: 32.7 minutes
--- 0.3 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 13.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.0%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (0.9%), public transportation (1.1%), worked from home (6.9%)
#8. Caroline County
- Average Commute Time: 32.7 minutes
--- 0.3 minutes shorter than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 15.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.6%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (3.8%)
#7. Montgomery County
- Average Commute Time: 34.4 minutes
--- 1.4 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 16.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 10.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (62.6%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (13.0%), worked from home (11.4%)
#6. Frederick County
- Average Commute Time: 35.4 minutes
--- 2.4 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 22.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.9%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (1.9%), public transportation (2.1%), worked from home (9.6%)
#5. Queen Anne's County
- Average Commute Time: 36 minutes
--- 3.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 21.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.0%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (1.4%), worked from home (9.8%)
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#4. Carroll County
- Average Commute Time: 36.1 minutes
--- 3.1 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 20.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.8%), carpooled (6.7%), walked to work (1.1%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (8.3%)
#3. Prince George's County
- Average Commute Time: 37 minutes
--- 4.0 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 19.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 18.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (65.9%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (13.1%), worked from home (6.5%)
#2. Calvert County
- Average Commute Time: 42.2 minutes
--- 9.2 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 31.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 26.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.4%), carpooled (6.9%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (2.6%), worked from home (7.5%)
#1. Charles County
- Average Commute Time: 45.4 minutes
--- 12.4 minutes longer than state average - Workers with 60+ minute commute: 35.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 27.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.2%), carpooled (6.7%), walked to work (0.8%), public transportation (5.4%), worked from home (6.2%)
