Best commutes in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts. 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. Worcester County (West Central)
Average commute: 29 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 11.8%
Population: 63,157
#19. Worcester County (Northeast)—Leominster, Fitchburg, and Gardner Cities
Average commute: 28.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 11.7%
Population: 58,340
#18. Middlesex (Southeast) and Norfolk (Northeast) Counties—Newton City and Brookline Town
Average commute: 28.7 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 7.2%
Population: 76,636
#17. Boston City—Allston, Brighton, and Fenway
Average commute: 28 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 9.4%
Population: 60,965
#16. Boston City—Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, East Boston, Central, and South End
Average commute: 27.7 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.3%
Population: 92,660
#15. Middlesex County—Waltham City, Lexington, Burlington, Bedford, and Lincoln Towns
Average commute: 27.3 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.7%
Population: 74,495
#14. Bristol County (South)—New Bedford City and Fairhaven Town
Average commute: 26.7 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 10.8%
Population: 50,149
#13. Hampden (West and East) and Hampshire (South) Counties—Northampton City
Average commute: 26.2 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 6.1%
Population: 75,818
#12. Middlesex County (East)—Cambridge City
Average commute: 26 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.2%
Population: 63,654
#11. Essex County (Northwest)—Lawrence, Haverhill, and Methuen Town Cities
Average commute: 25.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 9.4%
Population: 93,613
#10. Barnstable County (West)—Inner Cape Cod Towns and Barnstable Town City
Average commute: 25.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.7%
Population: 63,671
#9. Middlesex County (Far Northeast)—Lowell City
Average commute: 25.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.2%
Population: 52,276
#8. Bristol County (Central)—Fall River City and Somerset Town
Average commute: 24.2 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.1%
Population: 46,392
#7. Worcester County (Central)—Worcester City
Average commute: 24.1 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 8.4%
Population: 84,303
#6. Hampden County (West of Springfield City)—Westfield and Holyoke Cities
Average commute: 22.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.7%
Population: 70,366
#5. Franklin and Hampshire (North) Counties
Average commute: 22.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.7%
Population: 60,901
#4. Hampden County (East of Springfield City)—Chicopee City
Average commute: 22.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4.6%
Population: 61,724
#3. Hampden County (Central)—Springfield City
Average commute: 20.9 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4%
Population: 60,890
#2. Berkshire County—Pittsfield City
Average commute: 19.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4.9%
Population: 62,599
#1. Barnstable (East), Dukes, and Nantucket Counties—Outer Cape Cod Towns
Average commute: 18.9 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.7%
Population: 53,165
