Counties with the most super commuters in Minnesota
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 Minnesota 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. Chisago County
--- 60+ minute commute: 15.4%
- Average commute time: 32.6 minutes
--- 8.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 25.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 59.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.3%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (1.6%), worked from home (7.0%)
#49. Mahnomen County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.4%
- Average commute time: 19.7 minutes
--- 4.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 7.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 27.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.8%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (5.1%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (9.1%)
#48. Lake County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.5%
- Average commute time: 21.6 minutes
--- 2.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 25.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.4%), carpooled (10.3%), walked to work (4.0%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (9.5%)
#47. Norman County
--- 60+ minute commute: 11.9%
- Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.2%), carpooled (10.8%), walked to work (5.1%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (6.8%)
#46. Faribault County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.7%
- Average commute time: 20.2 minutes
--- 3.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.5%), carpooled (6.9%), walked to work (3.8%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (7.8%)
#45. Cottonwood County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 17.3 minutes
--- 6.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 20.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.6%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (4.3%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (6.3%)
#44. Blue Earth County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.0%
- Average commute time: 18.2 minutes
--- 5.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 25.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.6%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (1.9%), worked from home (6.7%)
#43. Sibley County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.1%
- Average commute time: 25.3 minutes
--- 1.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 52.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.6%), carpooled (5.3%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (8.0%)
#42. Nicollet County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.6%
- Average commute time: 18 minutes
--- 5.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 50.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.4%), carpooled (7.0%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (12.2%)
#41. Dodge County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 25.4 minutes
--- 1.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 58.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.7%), carpooled (10.5%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (1.4%), worked from home (7.6%)
#40. Le Sueur County
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.0%
- Average commute time: 27.4 minutes
--- 3.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 62.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.6%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (2.9%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.9%)
#39. Wright County
--- 60+ minute commute: 11.4%
- Average commute time: 30.3 minutes
--- 6.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.5%), carpooled (6.6%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (6.5%)
#38. Chippewa County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.7%
- Average commute time: 19.5 minutes
--- 4.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.3%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (3.8%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (8.2%)
#37. Freeborn County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Average commute time: 19.6 minutes
--- 4.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.3%), carpooled (9.6%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (4.5%)
#36. Stearns County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Average commute time: 20.9 minutes
--- 2.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 18.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.6%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (4.6%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (6.3%)
#35. Koochiching County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.7%
- Average commute time: 15.8 minutes
--- 8.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 5.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.5%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (5.0%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (9.6%)
#34. Cass County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Average commute time: 23.2 minutes
--- 0.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.7%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (8.1%)
#33. Wabasha County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.6%
- Average commute time: 24.7 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 21.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.7%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (1.7%), worked from home (7.8%)
#32. McLeod County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.4%
- Average commute time: 23 minutes
--- 0.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 30.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (85.5%), carpooled (6.4%), walked to work (1.9%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.4%)
#31. Otter Tail County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.0%
- Average commute time: 21.9 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.4%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (0.9%), worked from home (7.8%)
#30. Houston County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Average commute time: 23.1 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 9.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.0%), carpooled (7.9%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (7.1%)
#29. Lincoln County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.0%
- Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
--- 0.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 30.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (67.8%), carpooled (11.5%), walked to work (4.7%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (15.2%)
#28. Fillmore County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Average commute time: 27.1 minutes
--- 3.3 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.2%), carpooled (10.5%), walked to work (4.0%), public transportation (1.6%), worked from home (9.4%)
#27. Sherburne County
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.8%
- Average commute time: 32.4 minutes
--- 8.6 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 66.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.3%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (0.5%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (7.0%)
#26. Carlton County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 23.2 minutes
--- 0.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.1%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.7%)
#25. Murray County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.8%
- Average commute time: 20.4 minutes
--- 3.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.3%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (4.1%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (7.3%)
#24. Beltrami County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.3%
- Average commute time: 20 minutes
--- 3.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 14.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.9%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (4.2%), public transportation (1.8%), worked from home (6.9%)
#23. Renville County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.0%
- Average commute time: 20.5 minutes
--- 3.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 33.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.5%), carpooled (5.1%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (9.2%)
#22. Pipestone County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.3%
- Average commute time: 19 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 11.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.7%), carpooled (11.8%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (4.9%)
#21. Red Lake County
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.3%
- Average commute time: 23.8 minutes
--- 0.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 49.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.1%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (6.0%), public transportation (0.0%), worked from home (5.3%)
#20. Douglas County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 20.1 minutes
--- 3.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 13.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 14.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.7%), carpooled (5.4%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (8.0%)
#19. Wadena County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.2%), carpooled (9.6%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (9.0%)
#18. Swift County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.2%
- Average commute time: 20.6 minutes
--- 3.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.7%), carpooled (8.2%), walked to work (4.7%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (7.2%)
#17. Pope County
--- 60+ minute commute: 4.6%
- Average commute time: 21.3 minutes
--- 2.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.7%), carpooled (8.2%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (7.0%)
#16. Crow Wing County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 14.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.1%), carpooled (8.8%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (7.5%)
#15. Benton County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.1%
- Average commute time: 23 minutes
--- 0.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 65.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.0%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (5.1%)
#14. Grant County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Average commute time: 23.4 minutes
--- 0.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.3%), carpooled (6.9%), walked to work (3.9%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (11.3%)
#13. Watonwan County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.9%
- Average commute time: 21.9 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.0%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (6.8%), public transportation (1.6%), worked from home (3.3%)
#12. Todd County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.9%
- Average commute time: 24.6 minutes
--- 0.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 23.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 46.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.3%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (8.2%)
#11. Itasca County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.7%
- Average commute time: 23.7 minutes
--- 0.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 16.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.9%), carpooled (10.3%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (6.1%)
#10. Meeker County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.6%
- Average commute time: 23.8 minutes
--- 0.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 23.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 46.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.3%), carpooled (9.7%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (5.5%)
#9. Traverse County
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Average commute time: 19.6 minutes
--- 4.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 14.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (72.9%), carpooled (10.6%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (12.6%)
#8. Clearwater County
--- 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Average commute time: 25.6 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 11.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 36.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.0%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (4.9%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (6.8%)
#7. Hubbard County
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.0%
- Average commute time: 24.7 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 39.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.6%), carpooled (9.9%), walked to work (2.5%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (9.6%)
#6. Morrison County
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.0%
- Average commute time: 27.2 minutes
--- 3.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 39.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.9%), carpooled (9.9%), walked to work (3.7%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (6.6%)
#5. Isanti County
--- 60+ minute commute: 19.8%
- Average commute time: 34.9 minutes
--- 11.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 27.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 59.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (84.3%), carpooled (7.4%), walked to work (0.9%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (6.2%)
#4. Mille Lacs County
--- 60+ minute commute: 15.5%
- Average commute time: 30.6 minutes
--- 6.8 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 24.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 46.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.7%), carpooled (10.8%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (1.4%), worked from home (6.9%)
#3. Aitkin County
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.6%
- Average commute time: 28 minutes
--- 4.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 33.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.5%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (7.5%)
#2. Kanabec County
--- 60+ minute commute: 18.6%
- Average commute time: 30.7 minutes
--- 6.9 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 23.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 50.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.2%), carpooled (11.5%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (5.2%)
#1. Pine County
--- 60+ minute commute: 18.6%
- Average commute time: 32.3 minutes
--- 8.5 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 23.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.9%), carpooled (12.2%), walked to work (2.3%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (7.2%)