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 Illinois, 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.
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1 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 40.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.8%
--- Walked: 1.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 3.8%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 86.8%
--- Carpooled: 6.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 3%
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3 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 39.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.6%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 2.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 6.1%
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4 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 23%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.7%
--- Public transportation: 1%
--- Walked: 2.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.1%
--- Worked from home: 4.7%
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5 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 31.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.8%
--- Carpooled: 8.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.8%
--- Worked from home: 4.3%
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6 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 31.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.6%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 2.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 7.4%
Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 19.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.7%
--- Carpooled: 8.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 7.8%
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8 / 50- Average commute to work: 25 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 28.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.8%
--- Carpooled: 8.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 3.9%
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 27.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 86.2%
--- Carpooled: 5.1%
--- Public transportation: 1.2%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 6%
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10 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 62.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 87.5%
--- Carpooled: 5.3%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 1%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 5.2%
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11 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 11.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.8%
--- Carpooled: 7.7%
--- Public transportation: 2.2%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 7%
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12 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 11.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.7%
--- Carpooled: 6.4%
--- Public transportation: 1.2%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 8%
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13 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 26.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.2%
--- Carpooled: 12.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.2%
--- Worked from home: 4.5%
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14 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 40.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.4%
--- Carpooled: 4.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 4.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 6.9%
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15 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 19.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.1%
--- Carpooled: 7.8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.2%
--- Worked from home: 3.2%
marythebarberphotos // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 49.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.9%
--- Carpooled: 9.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 1.4%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 5.3%
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 47.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.8%
--- Carpooled: 7.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 7.8%
Jason Patrick Ross // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Average commute to work: 26 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 41.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 7.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.8%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 8%
Charles Brutlag // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 64.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.5%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 8.1%
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20 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 22.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.9%
--- Carpooled: 5.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 2%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 6.7%
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21 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 54.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.6%
--- Carpooled: 6.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 6.4%
Gregory S. King // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 58.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.3%
--- Carpooled: 7.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 8.4%
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23 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 39.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 86.6%
--- Carpooled: 5.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 5.2%
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24 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 49.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 5.4%
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25 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.8%
--- Carpooled: 9.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 3.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.8%
--- Worked from home: 5.1%
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26 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 37.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.6%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 1.1%
--- Walked: 3.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.7%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 6.1%
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.9%
--- Carpooled: 9.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.2%
--- Worked from home: 7.3%
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28 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.2%
--- Carpooled: 10.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 2.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 7.4%
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29 / 50- Average commute to work: 27 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.8%
--- Carpooled: 6.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 2.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.4%
--- Worked from home: 6.4%
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30 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 40%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.8%
--- Carpooled: 8.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3.3%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 6.9%
JL Jahn // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 59.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.5%
--- Carpooled: 10.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 0.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 6.1%
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32 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 39.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 88.7%
--- Carpooled: 8.1%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 1.9%
Hank Shiffman // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Average commute to work: 28 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.2%
--- Carpooled: 10.5%
--- Public transportation: 1.5%
--- Walked: 0.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 6.5%
PICTOR PICTURES // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 21%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 88.1%
--- Carpooled: 4.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 5.6%
Caileb Feik // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 36.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 85.8%
--- Carpooled: 5.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 5.5%
David Huffman // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 21.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.7%
--- Carpooled: 5.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.5%
--- Worked from home: 7.9%
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37 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 41.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.9%
--- Carpooled: 9.9%
--- Public transportation: 3.9%
--- Walked: 0.3%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 3%
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38 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 43.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 74.6%
--- Carpooled: 9.3%
--- Public transportation: 2%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.6%
--- Worked from home: 11%
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39 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 53%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 85.6%
--- Carpooled: 4.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 7.4%
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40 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 49.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.9%
--- Carpooled: 6.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 1.3%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 7%
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41 / 50- Average commute to work: 29 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 71.1%
--- Carpooled: 6.3%
--- Public transportation: 5.9%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 14%
Eddie J. Rodriquez // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Average commute to work: 29 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 57.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 87%
--- Carpooled: 4.4%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 5.3%
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43 / 50- Average commute to work: 29.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 25.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 72.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.2%
--- Public transportation: 3.8%
--- Walked: 2.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 12.6%
Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Average commute to work: 30.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 19.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 50.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.5%
--- Carpooled: 10.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.4%
--- Worked from home: 7%
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45 / 50- Average commute to work: 31.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 14.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 41%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.9%
--- Carpooled: 6.5%
--- Public transportation: 1.8%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 11%
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46 / 50- Average commute to work: 32.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 17.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 37.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.4%
--- Worked from home: 7.6%
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47 / 50- Average commute to work: 32.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 15.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 44.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.4%
--- Carpooled: 6.9%
--- Public transportation: 3.2%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 9.4%
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48 / 50- Average commute to work: 32.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 14%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 11%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 58.5%
--- Carpooled: 7.8%
--- Public transportation: 15.8%
--- Walked: 4%
--- Bicycle: 1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.7%
--- Worked from home: 11.3%
Canva
49 / 50- Average commute to work: 33.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 16.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 64.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.3%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 1.1%
--- Walked: 0.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 10.3%
Michael Rolands // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Average commute to work: 45.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 33.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 33.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 74.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.2%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 14.9%
