Boroughs with the worst commutes in Alaska
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 boroughs with the worst commutes in Alaska, using 2021 data from the Census Bureau. Boroughs 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.
#30. Yakutat City and Borough
- Average commute to work: 4.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.3%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 45.8%
--- Carpooled: 16.2%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 29.2%
--- Bicycle: 1.9%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.9%
--- Worked from home: 4.9%
#29. Skagway Municipality
- Average commute to work: 5.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.3%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 4.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 40.1%
--- Carpooled: 4%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 45.6%
--- Bicycle: 6.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.2%
--- Worked from home: 3.6%
#27. Aleutians East Borough (tie)
- Average commute to work: 5.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 1.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 24%
--- Carpooled: 7.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 49.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.8%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 4.8%
--- Worked from home: 13.4%
#27. Lake and Peninsula Borough (tie)
- Average commute to work: 5.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.5%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 27.7%
--- Carpooled: 3.3%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 46.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 17%
--- Worked from home: 5.1%
#26. Northwest Arctic Borough
- Average commute to work: 5.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.5%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 1.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 17.2%
--- Carpooled: 11.4%
--- Public transportation: 1.3%
--- Walked: 45.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 18.3%
--- Worked from home: 6.1%
#25. Nome Census Area
- Average commute to work: 6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.2%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 24.1%
--- Carpooled: 10.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 35.4%
--- Bicycle: 1.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 21.9%
--- Worked from home: 6.5%
#24. Aleutians West Census Area
- Average commute to work: 6.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.1%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 54.2%
--- Carpooled: 12.4%
--- Public transportation: 1.5%
--- Walked: 27.1%
--- Bicycle: 1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.9%
--- Worked from home: 2%
#23. Kusilvak Census Area
- Average commute to work: 6.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.5%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 6.8%
--- Carpooled: 4.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 38.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 46.4%
--- Worked from home: 3.7%
#22. Wrangell City and Borough
- Average commute to work: 7.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 2.5%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 69.8%
--- Carpooled: 3.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 13.2%
--- Bicycle: 2.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.1%
--- Worked from home: 8%
#21. North Slope Borough
- Average commute to work: 7.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 4.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 21.2%
--- Carpooled: 19.2%
--- Public transportation: 1.5%
--- Walked: 46%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 7.7%
--- Worked from home: 4.1%
#20. Petersburg Borough
- Average commute to work: 7.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.5%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 59.4%
--- Carpooled: 8.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 21.1%
--- Bicycle: 1.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 3.5%
--- Worked from home: 5.3%
#19. Bethel Census Area
- Average commute to work: 7.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.2%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 23.1%
--- Carpooled: 10%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 33.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 27%
--- Worked from home: 5.7%
#18. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
- Average commute to work: 9.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.3%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 5.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 25.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 41.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 15.6%
--- Worked from home: 9.1%
#17. Dillingham Census Area
- Average commute to work: 9.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.7%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 1.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 34.3%
--- Carpooled: 18.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 24.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.7%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 14.5%
--- Worked from home: 6.8%
#16. Chugach Census Area
- Average commute to work: 9.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 0.5%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 6.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 69.5%
--- Carpooled: 11%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 10.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 4.5%
--- Worked from home: 3.6%
#15. Sitka City and Borough
- Average commute to work: 11 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 1.2%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 3.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 65%
--- Carpooled: 9.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 14.1%
--- Bicycle: 3.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 3.2%
--- Worked from home: 4.4%
#14. Kodiak Island Borough
- Average commute to work: 11.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 1.1%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 58.8%
--- Carpooled: 18.2%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 6.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.6%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 9.1%
--- Worked from home: 7%
#13. Haines Borough
- Average commute to work: 11.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.4%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 46.9%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 15.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 8.3%
--- Worked from home: 19.4%
#12. Bristol Bay Borough
- Average commute to work: 12.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.6%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 67%
--- Carpooled: 6.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 16.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 8%
#11. Ketchikan Gateway Borough
- Average commute to work: 14.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 1.7%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 66.8%
--- Carpooled: 16.8%
--- Public transportation: 3.7%
--- Walked: 6.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.8%
--- Worked from home: 3.2%
#10. Hoonah-Angoon Census Area
- Average commute to work: 14.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.1%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 4.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 34.6%
--- Carpooled: 3.7%
--- Public transportation: 1.9%
--- Walked: 45.5%
--- Bicycle: 2.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 5.9%
--- Worked from home: 5.8%
#9. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
- Average commute to work: 15.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.6%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 54.7%
--- Carpooled: 14.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 21.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 4.6%
--- Worked from home: 4.3%
#8. Juneau City and Borough
- Average commute to work: 15.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 1.8%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 0.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 66%
--- Carpooled: 13.1%
--- Public transportation: 3.6%
--- Walked: 6%
--- Bicycle: 0.8%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 9.1%
#7. Denali Borough
- Average commute to work: 15.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.8%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 26.5%
--- Carpooled: 8.4%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 59.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2%
--- Worked from home: 3.6%
#6. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
- Average commute to work: 16 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.4%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 3.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 66.2%
--- Carpooled: 12%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 8.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.9%
--- Worked from home: 10.4%
#5. Anchorage Municipality
- Average commute to work: 19 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 2.7%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.7%
--- Carpooled: 12.1%
--- Public transportation: 1.5%
--- Walked: 2.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.9%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2%
--- Worked from home: 7.1%
#4. Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Average commute to work: 19.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.6%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 2.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.8%
--- Carpooled: 13.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 4%
--- Bicycle: 0.7%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.6%
--- Worked from home: 6%
#3. Kenai Peninsula Borough
- Average commute to work: 20.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.1%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 5.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 69.8%
--- Carpooled: 10%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 5.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 5.4%
--- Worked from home: 8.9%
#2. Copper River Census Area
- Average commute to work: 27.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.4%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 21.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 62.5%
--- Carpooled: 3.1%
--- Public transportation: 1.1%
--- Walked: 12.9%
--- Bicycle: 2.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 7.1%
--- Worked from home: 10.8%
#1. Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Average commute to work: 36.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 20.7%
- Share that worked outside their borough of residence: 31.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.6%
--- Carpooled: 9.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 6%
--- Worked from home: 8.3%
