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 Iowa, 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: 20 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.9%
--- Carpooled: 7.3%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.2%
--- Worked from home: 7.2%
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2 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 32.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.4%
--- Carpooled: 11.3%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 4.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.8%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 7.3%
Robert O Hull // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 45.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.9%
--- Carpooled: 7.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 2.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 5.5%
Eddie J. Rodriquez // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 20%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.7%
--- Carpooled: 7.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.9%
--- Worked from home: 5.7%
farmer doug // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 20.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.9%
--- Carpooled: 8.7%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 9.1%
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Supunsa Bastin // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 37.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 85.3%
--- Carpooled: 3.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 3.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 5.7%
April Taymen // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 40.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 77.6%
--- Carpooled: 6.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 6.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.2%
--- Worked from home: 9.2%
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8 / 50- Average commute to work: 20.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 3.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.2%
--- Carpooled: 8.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 1.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 6.1%
Kuehner // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Average commute to work: 21 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 31.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.2%
--- Carpooled: 8%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 3.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.5%
--- Worked from home: 7.4%
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 2.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 56.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 76.5%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.5%
--- Worked from home: 13.9%
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Designs2Rise // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 31.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.6%
--- Carpooled: 5.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 1.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.6%
--- Worked from home: 8%
Kimberly's Impressions // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.1%
--- Carpooled: 13.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.8%
--- Walked: 2.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 4.2%
IN Dancing Light // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 76.9%
--- Carpooled: 10.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 3%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.7%
--- Worked from home: 7.3%
Canva
14 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 26.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.7%
--- Carpooled: 8.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 4.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 5.3%
Melissa L Oltman // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.4%
--- Carpooled: 4.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 2.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 10.5%
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16 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 27.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84%
--- Carpooled: 7.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 3.7%
Gabe Shakour // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 29.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.6%
--- Carpooled: 9.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 6.7%
--- Bicycle: 1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 6.5%
Life Atlas Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 32.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 74%
--- Carpooled: 7.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 7.4%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 9.8%
dustin77a // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 34.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.2%
--- Carpooled: 10%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 4.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.5%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 5.3%
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20 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 37.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.5%
--- Carpooled: 6.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 3.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 6.8%
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21 / 50- Average commute to work: 21.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.1%
--- Carpooled: 7.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 2.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 6.8%
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22 / 50- Average commute to work: 22.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 25%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 4.7%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Average commute to work: 22.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 23.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.1%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 4.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.7%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 10.8%
Kevin Isaacson // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Average commute to work: 22.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.8%
--- Carpooled: 6.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.7%
--- Worked from home: 8.4%
Canva
25 / 50- Average commute to work: 22.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 17.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.6%
--- Carpooled: 8.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 4.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 9.6%
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Eddie J. Rodriquez // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Average commute to work: 22.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 51.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.9%
--- Carpooled: 11.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 3.2%
Lucas Oglesbee // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Average commute to work: 22.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 44.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80%
--- Carpooled: 8.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 3.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.4%
--- Worked from home: 6.8%
Doug Lambert // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Average commute to work: 23 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 43.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.7%
--- Carpooled: 7.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 3.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.4%
--- Worked from home: 8.8%
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29 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 24.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.6%
--- Carpooled: 6.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 2.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 9.4%
Rexjaymes // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 34.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 68.8%
--- Carpooled: 12.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 3.1%
--- Bicycle: 1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2%
--- Worked from home: 12.6%
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31 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 40.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.9%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 5.2%
J Sanderman // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 31.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 69.1%
--- Carpooled: 9.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 3.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 7.8%
--- Worked from home: 9.9%
Canva
33 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.4%
--- Carpooled: 7.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 7%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 56.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.1%
--- Carpooled: 7.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 2.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 6.1%
Canva
35 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 42.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.8%
--- Carpooled: 8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 3.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 6%
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Brooke Van Zee // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Average commute to work: 23.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 29.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.4%
--- Carpooled: 11.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 5.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.3%
--- Worked from home: 4.6%
Canva
37 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 22.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.4%
--- Carpooled: 6.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 5.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 6.7%
Arlen E Breiholz // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 23.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.3%
--- Carpooled: 6.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 3.9%
--- Worked from home: 8.1%
Canva
39 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73.1%
--- Carpooled: 11.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 7%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 8.2%
Canva
40 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 3.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 59.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.5%
--- Carpooled: 6.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 10%
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41 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.8%
--- Carpooled: 6.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1.4%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 7.8%
Marsen // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 43.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.8%
--- Carpooled: 8.6%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 3%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 11.8%
Canva
43 / 50- Average commute to work: 24.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 51.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.8%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 5.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 6.8%
Canva
44 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 41.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.5%
--- Carpooled: 8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 3.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.1%
--- Worked from home: 8.7%
SNC Art and More // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 57.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.8%
--- Carpooled: 5.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 1.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 8.2%
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SevenMaps // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 57.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.6%
--- Carpooled: 7.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 2.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 8.2%
Canva
47 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 47.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 75.3%
--- Carpooled: 6.7%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 4.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.1%
--- Worked from home: 13.6%
Mary Key // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 14.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 37.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.2%
--- Carpooled: 9.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 2.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 4.4%
Canva
49 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 19.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.4%
--- Carpooled: 6.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 5.9%
Daniel Novak // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 14.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 47.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.8%
--- Carpooled: 7.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 3.2%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 7.3%
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