Counties with the most super commuters in Michigan
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 Michigan 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.
#50. Antrim County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.0%
- Average commute time: 25.3 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 43.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.7%), carpooled (12.1%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (8.1%)
#49. Eaton County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.9%
- Average commute time: 22.7 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 51.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.8%), carpooled (9.2%), walked to work (1.4%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (7.0%)
#48. Isabella County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.8%
- Average commute time: 17.9 minutes
--- 6.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 18.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.0%), carpooled (8.2%), walked to work (6.9%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (4.2%)
#47. Houghton County
--- 60+ minute commute: 3.1%
- Average commute time: 16.7 minutes
--- 7.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 9.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 6.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (71.2%), carpooled (8.7%), walked to work (10.7%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.1%)
#46. Wexford County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 21 minutes
--- 3.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.2%), carpooled (12.5%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (4.6%)
#45. Marquette County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.5%
- Average commute time: 18.5 minutes
--- 6.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 3.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.2%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (6.0%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (3.8%)
#44. Benzie County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.3%
- Average commute time: 25.7 minutes
--- 1.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 52.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.1%), carpooled (6.4%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.9%), worked from home (6.9%)
#43. Oceana County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.0%
- Average commute time: 22.9 minutes
--- 1.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 39.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.5%), carpooled (13.2%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (4.4%)
#42. St. Joseph County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.3%
- Average commute time: 21.8 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 29.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 12.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.7%), carpooled (15.6%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (4.5%)
#41. Barry County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.4%
- Average commute time: 28.4 minutes
--- 3.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 58.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.0%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.5%)
#40. Bay County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.1%
- Average commute time: 22.8 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.7%), carpooled (6.6%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (5.0%)
#39. Gratiot County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.9%
- Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
--- 1.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 36.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.1%), carpooled (9.2%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (5.1%)
#38. Lenawee County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.8%
- Average commute time: 26.7 minutes
--- 2.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.9%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.2%)
#37. Ionia County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.2%
- Average commute time: 27 minutes
--- 2.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 50.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.9%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.0%)
#36. Huron County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 20.5 minutes
--- 4.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 15.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.1%), carpooled (7.2%), walked to work (4.1%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.4%)
#35. Saginaw County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.4%
- Average commute time: 21.9 minutes
--- 2.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 20.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.2%), carpooled (9.9%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.5%)
#34. Mecosta County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.3%
- Average commute time: 23.1 minutes
--- 1.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.1%), carpooled (9.4%), walked to work (4.7%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (5.4%)
#33. Leelanau County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.0%
- Average commute time: 23.1 minutes
--- 1.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.0%), carpooled (8.8%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (10.3%)
#32. Livingston County
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.3%
- Average commute time: 32.1 minutes
--- 7.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 52.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (85.0%), carpooled (6.6%), walked to work (0.8%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (6.7%)
#31. Genesee County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.3%
- Average commute time: 26.3 minutes
--- 1.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 26.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.3%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (1.1%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (4.5%)
#30. Oscoda County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.4%
- Average commute time: 19.5 minutes
--- 5.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 22.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 26.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.1%), carpooled (5.8%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (9.0%)
#29. Shiawassee County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.9%
- Average commute time: 27.4 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 49.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.6%), carpooled (8.7%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (6.3%)
#28. Gogebic County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.0%
- Average commute time: 18.3 minutes
--- 6.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 3.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.0%), carpooled (8.7%), walked to work (3.3%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (5.2%)
#27. Luce County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.9%
- Average commute time: 15.5 minutes
--- 9.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 14.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.9%), carpooled (12.0%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (5.5%)
#26. Midland County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
--- 1.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 33.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.8%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (5.6%)
#25. Hillsdale County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.2%
- Average commute time: 24.2 minutes
--- 0.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.6%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (4.4%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (6.4%)
#24. Montcalm County
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.2%
- Average commute time: 29.1 minutes
--- 4.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 22.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 46.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.5%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (4.5%)
#23. Alcona County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.0%
- Average commute time: 26.2 minutes
--- 1.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.8%), carpooled (10.8%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (6.5%)
#22. Newaygo County
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.8%
- Average commute time: 29.3 minutes
--- 4.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 21.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.4%), carpooled (12.7%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.6%)
#21. Iosco County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.9%
- Average commute time: 21.1 minutes
--- 3.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 13.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.4%), carpooled (11.6%), walked to work (3.9%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.2%)
#20. Osceola County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.8%
- Average commute time: 24.8 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.1%), carpooled (10.2%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.3%)
#19. Delta County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.5%
- Average commute time: 20.2 minutes
--- 4.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 11.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.5%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (4.0%)
#18. St. Clair County
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.9%
- Average commute time: 29.5 minutes
--- 4.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 21.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.5%), carpooled (10.0%), walked to work (1.5%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (3.5%)
#17. Cheboygan County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.0%
- Average commute time: 25.3 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.0%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.7%)
#16. Crawford County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.7%
- Average commute time: 22.7 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.5%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (3.6%)
#15. Kalkaska County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.3%
- Average commute time: 28.8 minutes
--- 4.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.3%), carpooled (12.0%), walked to work (1.5%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.0%)
#14. Baraga County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.2%
- Average commute time: 19.3 minutes
--- 5.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 14.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.1%), carpooled (11.2%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (3.2%)
#13. Gladwin County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.6%
- Average commute time: 29.7 minutes
--- 5.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.7%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (1.9%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (5.3%)
#12. Arenac County
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.1%
- Average commute time: 29.4 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 44.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.0%), carpooled (7.2%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (5.5%)
#11. Iron County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Average commute time: 20.6 minutes
--- 4.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 23.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 12.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.4%), carpooled (8.7%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.5%)
#10. Presque Isle County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.7%
- Average commute time: 26 minutes
--- 1.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.3%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (5.0%)
#9. Clare County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.1%
- Average commute time: 29.5 minutes
--- 4.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 44.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.2%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (7.9%)
#8. Roscommon County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.1%
- Average commute time: 25.8 minutes
--- 1.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 10.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.3%), carpooled (13.6%), walked to work (3.3%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (7.6%)
#7. Lake County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.9%
- Average commute time: 27.5 minutes
--- 2.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.8%), carpooled (11.2%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (6.0%)
#6. Ogemaw County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.7%
- Average commute time: 26.4 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 25.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.2%), carpooled (9.6%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.6%)
#5. Sanilac County
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.3%
- Average commute time: 28.2 minutes
--- 3.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 34.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.1%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (4.2%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (5.4%)
#4. Lapeer County
--- 60+ minute commute: 20.6%
- Average commute time: 35.9 minutes
--- 11.3 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 55.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.7%), carpooled (8.2%), walked to work (1.4%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (4.3%)
#3. Ontonagon County
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.3%
- Average commute time: 28.7 minutes
--- 4.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 25.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.9%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (4.8%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (7.3%)
#2. Tuscola County
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.8%
- Average commute time: 30.2 minutes
--- 5.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 49.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.5%), carpooled (11.5%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (3.6%)
#1. Alger County
--- 60+ minute commute: 11.6%
- Average commute time: 29.4 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (67.3%), carpooled (11.6%), walked to work (4.4%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (11.9%)