Counties with the worst commutes 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 Bureau data.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the worst commutes in Maryland, using 2021 data from the Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by longest average commute time in 2021 among workers over the age of 16, excluding those who work from home. Think you have a long trip to work? Read on to compare it against the worst commutes statewide.
#24. Wicomico County
- Average commute to work: 22.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 16.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 5.9%
#23. Allegany County
- Average commute to work: 23 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 5.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.2%
--- Carpooled: 8.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 2.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 5.4%
#22. Somerset County
- Average commute to work: 23.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 39.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 72.8%
--- Carpooled: 11.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 5.5%
--- Bicycle: 1.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.1%
--- Worked from home: 6.5%
#21. Worcester County
- Average commute to work: 23.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 17.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.8%
--- Carpooled: 8.2%
--- Public transportation: 1.3%
--- Walked: 2.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.6%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 6.9%
#20. Garrett County
- Average commute to work: 24.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 9.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.9%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.8%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 8.3%
#19. Dorchester County
- Average commute to work: 26.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 36.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.6%
--- Carpooled: 10.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 1%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 6.7%
#18. Talbot County
- Average commute to work: 27.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 21.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.9%
--- Carpooled: 7.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.8%
--- Walked: 2.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 13.8%
#17. Kent County
- Average commute to work: 28.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 17.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 17.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 74.5%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 1.5%
--- Walked: 5.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 10.3%
#16. Baltimore County
- Average commute to work: 29.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 43.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.1%
--- Public transportation: 4%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.6%
--- Worked from home: 9.6%
#15. Washington County
- Average commute to work: 29.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 20.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 77.7%
--- Carpooled: 9.1%
--- Public transportation: 1.4%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 8.6%
#14. Cecil County
- Average commute to work: 29.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 21.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.7%
--- Carpooled: 10.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.6%
--- Worked from home: 6.8%
#13. Howard County
- Average commute to work: 30.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 44.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.2%
--- Carpooled: 6%
--- Public transportation: 2.6%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 16%
#11. Anne Arundel County (tie)
- Average commute to work: 30.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 29.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.3%
--- Carpooled: 6.9%
--- Public transportation: 2.7%
--- Walked: 1.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 12%
#11. St. Mary's County (tie)
- Average commute to work: 30.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 15.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 15.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.7%
--- Carpooled: 6.4%
--- Public transportation: 1.3%
--- Walked: 1.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 10.7%
#10. Baltimore city
- Average commute to work: 30.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 33.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 58.2%
--- Carpooled: 7.8%
--- Public transportation: 14.4%
--- Walked: 5.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.8%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.3%
--- Worked from home: 10.8%
#9. Harford County
- Average commute to work: 32.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 39.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.8%
--- Carpooled: 7.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.9%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 9.7%
#8. Caroline County
- Average commute to work: 32.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 15.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 2.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.3%
--- Worked from home: 4.5%
#7. Montgomery County
- Average commute to work: 33.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 15.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 10.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 59.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.5%
--- Public transportation: 11%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.5%
--- Worked from home: 17.6%
#6. Queen Anne's County
- Average commute to work: 34.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 19.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 44.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.5%
--- Carpooled: 7.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.8%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 10.7%
#5. Frederick County
- Average commute to work: 34.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 21.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 30%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 74.3%
--- Carpooled: 8%
--- Public transportation: 1.6%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 13.2%
#4. Carroll County
- Average commute to work: 35.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 19.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.3%
--- Carpooled: 6.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 11.3%
#3. Prince George's County
- Average commute to work: 36.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 18.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 17.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 64.3%
--- Carpooled: 10.2%
--- Public transportation: 11.2%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.1%
--- Worked from home: 10.2%
#2. Calvert County
- Average commute to work: 40.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 27.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 38.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.8%
--- Carpooled: 6.7%
--- Public transportation: 2%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 10.7%
#1. Charles County
- Average commute to work: 44.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 33.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 27.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 77.2%
--- Carpooled: 6.7%
--- Public transportation: 5%
--- Walked: 0.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 9.6%
