Major Cities With the Easiest and Worst Commutes

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Major cities with the easiest and worst commutes

More than 70% of workers are not satisfied with choices they have made regarding their career. While there are plenty of elements of work that may negatively color the day-to-day grind of a particular job, the intrinsically depressing nature of a long commute is a standout. Even more bad news: The amount workers spend commuting does not appear to be slowing down whatsoever.

Data from the United States Census Bureau shows that the average American commute time has been steadily increasing since 2010, rising to an unprecedented one-way commute of 26.6 minutes in 2016. This may be indicative of a national trend—though the extent of rising commutes exist to differing degrees in various urban centers, as some cities have more people competing for public transportation and roads than others.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2016 American Community Survey, Stacker listed the 50 major cities with the easiest and worst commutes. The 50 cities in the United States with the largest total working population—aged 16 and older—are ranked according to average commute time. In the event of a tie, the city with the percentage of people whose commutes to work are more than 60 minutes was ranked as having the worser commute.

Read on to see how your commute compares to some of the longest in the nation.

ALSO: Worst commutes in every state.

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#50. Wichita, Kansas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 182,132
Mean travel time to work: 18.2 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 4.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

#49. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 186,937
Mean travel time to work: 18.3 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 6.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.8%

#48. Omaha, Nebraska

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 223,093
Mean travel time to work: 18.6 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.2%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 9.6%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 3.7%

#47. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 295,499
Mean travel time to work: 21.1 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.9%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 21.6%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.8%

#46. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 259,620
Mean travel time to work: 21.1 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 3.5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 5.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

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#45. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 216,686
Mean travel time to work: 21.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.3%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 3.9%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.1%

#44. Columbus, Ohio

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 423,159
Mean travel time to work: 21.5 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.9%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 11.1%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

#43. Kansas City, Missouri

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 232,407
Mean travel time to work: 21.6 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.6%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 21.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 19.5%

#42. Fresno, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 196,681
Mean travel time to work: 21.6 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 6.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.3%

#41. Memphis, Tennessee

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 281,899
Mean travel time to work: 21.7 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 2.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 0.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 5.6%

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#40. Tucson, Arizona

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 231,509
Mean travel time to work: 22.2 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.2%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 1.5%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.7%

#39. Louisville, Kentucky

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 286,480
Mean travel time to work: 22.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 3.4%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 4.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 3.7%

#38. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 262,053
Mean travel time to work: 22.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 17.7%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

#37. El Paso, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 284,945
Mean travel time to work: 22.6 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 3.6%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 1.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 4.4%

#36. Raleigh, North Carolina

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 232,338
Mean travel time to work: 22.7 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 15.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.1%

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#35. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 224,114
Mean travel time to work: 22.7 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 20%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.8%

#34. Indianapolis, Indiana

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 397,388
Mean travel time to work: 23 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 3.8%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 18.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

#33. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 176,833
Mean travel time to work: 23.2 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 0.1%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.3%

#32. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 235,755
Mean travel time to work: 23.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 3.9%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 35.4%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.3%

#31. San Diego, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 684,137
Mean travel time to work: 23.5 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 1.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

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#30. Austin, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 500,688
Mean travel time to work: 23.8 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 11.7%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#29. San Antonio, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 653,844
Mean travel time to work: 23.9 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.8%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 4.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#28. Jacksonville, Florida

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 398,286
Mean travel time to work: 24.2 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.3%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 5.9%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1%

#27. Nashville, Tennessee

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 333,059
Mean travel time to work: 24.3 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.4%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 17.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.1%

#26. Mesa, Arizona

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 211,451
Mean travel time to work: 24.9 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 2.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1%

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#25. Sacramento, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 209,254
Mean travel time to work: 24.9 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 6.4%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 17.6%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#24. Charlotte, North Carolina

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 406,355
Mean travel time to work: 25.1 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5.2%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 7.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 4.9%

#23. Phoenix, Arizona

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 706,375
Mean travel time to work: 25.1 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5.5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 0.6%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.8%

#22. Denver, Colorado

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 353,976
Mean travel time to work: 25.1 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 5.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 37.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.9%

#21. Las Vegas, Nevada

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 269,929
Mean travel time to work: 25.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 4.6%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 0.4%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.2%

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#20. Portland, Oregon

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 325,341
Mean travel time to work: 25.6 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 6.5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 18.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 3.4%

#19. Atlanta, Georgia

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 216,909
Mean travel time to work: 25.8 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 7.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 26.5%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.2%

#18. Dallas, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 612,193
Mean travel time to work: 26.3 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 17.1%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.7%

#17. Detroit, Michigan

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 215,597
Mean travel time to work: 26.6 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 7.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 28.1%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#16. Arlington, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 188,902
Mean travel time to work: 26.8 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 7.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 25.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.7%

#15. Houston, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 1,074,683
Mean travel time to work: 26.8 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 7.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 7.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.5%

#14. Fort Worth, Texas

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 373,287
Mean travel time to work: 26.8 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 8.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 15.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.7%

#13. Seattle, Washington

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 388,640
Mean travel time to work: 26.9 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 6.3%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 4.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.8%

#12. Miami, Florida

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 198,285
Mean travel time to work: 27.7 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 8.3%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 3.9%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.6%

#11. San Jose, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 486,960
Mean travel time to work: 28.5 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 9.2%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 11.3%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.3%

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#10. Washington, D.C.

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 345,735
Mean travel time to work: 29.9 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 8.8%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 0%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 24.9%

#9. Long Beach, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 215,614
Mean travel time to work: 29.9 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 12.8%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 18.4%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#8. Boston, Massachusetts

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 347,608
Mean travel time to work: 30.3 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 11.7%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 28.7%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.3%

#7. Baltimore, Maryland

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 270,104
Mean travel time to work: 30.5 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 12.5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 35.1%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 3%

#6. Los Angeles, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 1,853,827
Mean travel time to work: 30.5 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 12.6%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 3.1%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

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#5. Oakland, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 199,475
Mean travel time to work: 31 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 13.5%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 34.9%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#4. San Francisco, California

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 479,139
Mean travel time to work: 32.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 14%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 24.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 0.4%

#3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 639,442
Mean travel time to work: 32.7 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 14.1%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 18.8%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 5.8%

#2. Chicago, Illinois

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 1,264,388
Mean travel time to work: 34.4 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 16%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 6.2%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 1.2%

#1. New York, New York

Estimated number of workers 16 and over: 3,898,839
Mean travel time to work: 40.3 minutes
Percent whose commute to work is 60+ minutes: 25.4%
Percent that work outside county of residence: 42.6%
Percent that work outside state of residence: 2.8%

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