Counties with the most super commuters in Maryland
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 Maryland 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.
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#24. Wicomico County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 1.9%
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.1%
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
--- 11.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 9.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 16.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.5%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (4.9%)
#23. Garrett County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 2.0%
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.5%
- Average commute time: 23.7 minutes
--- 9.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 16.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 9.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.0%), carpooled (9.0%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (7.9%)
#22. Somerset County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 2.3%
--- 60+ minute commute: 5.4%
- Average commute time: 24.2 minutes
--- 8.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.1%), carpooled (10.8%), walked to work (6.0%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.3%)
#21. Worcester County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 2.9%
--- 60+ minute commute: 6.1%
- Average commute time: 24.1 minutes
--- 8.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 9.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.8%), carpooled (7.3%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (2.5%), worked from home (5.5%)
#20. Baltimore County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 3.1%
--- 60+ minute commute: 9.7%
- Average commute time: 29.8 minutes
--- 3.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.2%), carpooled (8.5%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (4.3%), worked from home (6.8%)
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#19. Cecil County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 3.4%
--- 60+ minute commute: 11.4%
- Average commute time: 30.6 minutes
--- 2.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.9%), carpooled (10.2%), walked to work (1.6%), public transportation (1.0%), worked from home (4.8%)
#18. Montgomery County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 3.5%
--- 60+ minute commute: 16.6%
- Average commute time: 34.4 minutes
--- 1.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 9.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 10.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (62.6%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (13.0%), worked from home (11.4%)
#17. Allegany County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 3.6%
--- 60+ minute commute: 7.5%
- Average commute time: 22.4 minutes
--- 10.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 5.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.8%), carpooled (9.5%), walked to work (3.2%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (4.2%)
#16. Howard County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 3.6%
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.5%
- Average commute time: 31.1 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 9.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.2%), carpooled (6.5%), walked to work (1.0%), public transportation (3.2%), worked from home (11.0%)
#15. Harford County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 3.8%
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.9%
- Average commute time: 32.7 minutes
--- 0.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.0%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (0.9%), public transportation (1.1%), worked from home (6.9%)
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#14. Anne Arundel County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 4.0%
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.6%
- Average commute time: 31.2 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.2%), carpooled (7.3%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (3.3%), worked from home (8.3%)
#13. Dorchester County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 4.4%
--- 60+ minute commute: 10.9%
- Average commute time: 27.3 minutes
--- 5.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.6%), carpooled (12.1%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.6%)
#12. Prince George's County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 4.4%
--- 60+ minute commute: 19.5%
- Average commute time: 37 minutes
--- 4.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 17.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 18.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (65.9%), carpooled (10.4%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (13.1%), worked from home (6.5%)
#11. Baltimore
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 4.9%
--- 60+ minute commute: 12.7%
- Average commute time: 31.1 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (59.2%), carpooled (8.6%), walked to work (6.2%), public transportation (16.1%), worked from home (7.1%)
#10. Carroll County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 5.0%
--- 60+ minute commute: 20.3%
- Average commute time: 36.1 minutes
--- 3.1 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.8%), carpooled (6.7%), walked to work (1.1%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (8.3%)
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#9. Caroline County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 5.7%
--- 60+ minute commute: 15.6%
- Average commute time: 32.7 minutes
--- 0.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 15.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.6%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (3.8%)
#8. Kent County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 6.0%
--- 60+ minute commute: 18.0%
- Average commute time: 28.2 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 14.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 19.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.5%), carpooled (7.0%), walked to work (7.1%), public transportation (1.2%), worked from home (9.9%)
#7. Washington County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 6.2%
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.6%
- Average commute time: 30.2 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 20.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.0%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (7.4%)
#6. Frederick County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 6.8%
--- 60+ minute commute: 22.3%
- Average commute time: 35.4 minutes
--- 2.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 19.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.9%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (1.9%), public transportation (2.1%), worked from home (9.6%)
#5. Queen Anne's County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 6.9%
--- 60+ minute commute: 21.3%
- Average commute time: 36 minutes
--- 3.0 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 18.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.0%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (1.7%), public transportation (1.4%), worked from home (9.8%)
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#4. Talbot County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 7.1%
--- 60+ minute commute: 13.0%
- Average commute time: 27.4 minutes
--- 5.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 12.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 24.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.5%), carpooled (7.6%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (1.2%), worked from home (9.6%)
#3. St. Mary's County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 7.6%
--- 60+ minute commute: 16.3%
- Average commute time: 31.7 minutes
--- 1.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 22.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 17.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.0%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (2.0%), public transportation (1.5%), worked from home (7.2%)
#2. Calvert County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 10.2%
--- 60+ minute commute: 31.1%
- Average commute time: 42.2 minutes
--- 9.2 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 26.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.4%), carpooled (6.9%), walked to work (0.7%), public transportation (2.6%), worked from home (7.5%)
#1. Charles County
- Workers with 90+ minute commute: 12.9%
--- 60+ minute commute: 35.9%
- Average commute time: 45.4 minutes
--- 12.4 minutes longer than state average
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.: 27.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.2%), carpooled (6.7%), walked to work (0.8%), public transportation (5.4%), worked from home (6.2%)
