Best commutes in Texas
Time is a valuable commodity; most people living in the United States can agree they spend way too much of it sitting in traffic. The average American spends nearly an hour in a single-occupancy vehicle getting to and from work each day.
Though congestion and long, complicated commutes are often accepted as an unavoidable part of life in places like New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., some cities boast relatively quick and easy transits. Which cities in the country have the shortest and least complicated commutes?
Stacker has collected data from the U.S Census Bureau to determine the best commutes in eight different states, including Texas. Stacker ranked the cities by average commute, and any ties were broken by commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time. The most recent data from 2017 includes commuters 16 years of age or older, and it excludes people who work remotely.
Read on to find out the fastest and easiest routes to help you save time and energy. The data might even help you choose which city you move to next.
#20. South Texas Development Council (North)—Webb County—Laredo City (Central)
Average commute: 19.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.9%
Worker population 16 and older: 48,067
#19. Cameron County (West)—Harlingen and San Benito Cities
Average commute: 19.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2%
Worker population 16 and older: 52,958
#18. Hidalgo County (North Central)—Edinburg City
Average commute: 19.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.3%
Worker population 16 and older: 46,940
#17. South Plains Association of Governments (Outside Lubbock County)
Average commute: 19.1 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.4%
Worker population 16 and older: 52,902
#16. Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission (Southeast)—Victoria and Calhoun Counties
Average commute: 19 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 51,931
#15. Middle Rio Grande Development Council
Average commute: 19 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 7%
Worker population 16 and older: 65,995
#14. Hidalgo County (Central)—McAllen City
Average commute: 18.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.1%
Worker population 16 and older: 57,201
#13. Panhandle Regional Planning Commission—Potter County—Amarillo City (North)
Average commute: 18.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.9%
Worker population 16 and older: 52,218
#12. South Plains Association of Governments—Lubbock County—Lubbock City (Outer)
Average commute: 18.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3%
Worker population 16 and older: 88,915
#11. Hidalgo County (South Central)—Pharr, San Juan, and Hidalgo Cities
Average commute: 18.3 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.6%
Worker population 16 and older: 48,236
#10. West Central Texas COG—Taylor County—Abilene City
Average commute: 18.1 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3.8%
Worker population 16 and older: 65,665
#9. Ark-Tex COG (East)—Bowie and Cass Counties
Average commute: 17.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 4.3%
Worker population 16 and older: 48,058
#8. Concho Valley COG and Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission (East)
Average commute: 17.8 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 7.4%
Worker population 16 and older: 42,556
#7. Coastal Bend COG—Nueces County (Central)—Corpus Christi City (North Central)
Average commute: 17.6 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.8%
Worker population 16 and older: 50,024
#6. Brazos Valley COG—Brazos County—College Station and Bryan Cities
Average commute: 17.3 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 3%
Worker population 16 and older: 101,160
#5. Heart of Texas COG—McLennan County—Waco City (Central)
Average commute: 17.1 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.9%
Worker population 16 and older: 44,560
#4. Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (Outside Potter and Randall Counties)
Average commute: 16.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.5%
Worker population 16 and older: 79,149
#3. Concho Valley COG—Tom Green County—San Angelo City
Average commute: 16.5 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 5.2%
Worker population 16 and older: 55,818
#2. North Texas Regional Planning Commission—Wichita County—Wichita Falls City
Average commute: 15.4 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.6%
Worker population 16 and older: 60,513
#1. South Plains Association of Governments—Lubbock County—Lubbock City (Central)
Average commute: 15 minutes
Commuters with 60 minutes or more of one-way travel time: 2.6%
Worker population 16 and older: 54,475
