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 North Carolina, 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: 25.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 44.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 14%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.1%
--- Worked from home: 3.1%
Canva
2 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 28.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 10.6%
Canva
3 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 14.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 71.1%
--- Carpooled: 6.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.9%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 18.7%
Chansak Joe // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 36%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.3%
--- Carpooled: 7.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 3.2%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0%
--- Worked from home: 5.8%
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 39.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.3%
--- Carpooled: 9%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.2%
--- Worked from home: 4.6%
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6 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 5.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 7.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 69.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.1%
--- Public transportation: 2.3%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 17.1%
Canva
7 / 50- Average commute to work: 25.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 35.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.4%
--- Carpooled: 9.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.7%
--- Worked from home: 3.9%
Canva
8 / 50- Average commute to work: 26 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 4.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 19.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 77.5%
--- Carpooled: 9.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1%
--- Worked from home: 10.9%
Canva
9 / 50- Average commute to work: 26 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 28.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 84%
--- Carpooled: 11.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 3.4%
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 38.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.9%
--- Carpooled: 9.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 1.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.2%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 5.2%
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11 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 36%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 12.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 0.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 3.9%
Canva
12 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 36.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.9%
--- Carpooled: 6.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.6%
--- Worked from home: 7%
KAD Photo // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 30%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78.2%
--- Carpooled: 7.3%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 3.9%
--- Worked from home: 9.1%
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14 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 38.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.6%
--- Carpooled: 8.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 6.4%
James R Poston // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 11%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 77.7%
--- Carpooled: 9.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.4%
--- Worked from home: 8.1%
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16 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.7%
--- Carpooled: 11.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.9%
--- Worked from home: 1.6%
Mary Terriberry // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Average commute to work: 26.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 25.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.7%
--- Carpooled: 9.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 5.9%
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Average commute to work: 27 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 53.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.2%
--- Carpooled: 10.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 6.6%
D Guest Smith // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.2 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 48.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.6%
--- Carpooled: 6.3%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2.3%
--- Bicycle: 1.4%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 3.3%
--- Worked from home: 3.2%
Canva
20 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 12.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 41.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.9%
--- Carpooled: 13.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.2%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 3.8%
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21 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 38.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.6%
--- Carpooled: 9.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 6%
mzglass96 // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Average commute to work: 27.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 52.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.9%
--- Carpooled: 9.1%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.5%
--- Bicycle: 0.7%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.4%
--- Worked from home: 4.5%
StacieStauffSmith Photos // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Average commute to work: 28 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 23.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 86.3%
--- Carpooled: 8.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 3.7%
refrina // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 6.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 42.4%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.3%
--- Carpooled: 11.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2%
--- Worked from home: 3.8%
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25 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 77%
--- Carpooled: 8.5%
--- Public transportation: 1.1%
--- Walked: 0.4%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 11.7%
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26 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 64.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 85.5%
--- Carpooled: 10.4%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0%
--- Worked from home: 3.1%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 17.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 16.1%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 80.5%
--- Carpooled: 11.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.5%
--- Walked: 2.5%
--- Bicycle: 1.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.7%
--- Worked from home: 2%
Al kearney // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 51.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.6%
--- Carpooled: 9.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.7%
--- Worked from home: 3.9%
Canva
29 / 50- Average commute to work: 28.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 37%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.6%
--- Carpooled: 11.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.7%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.7%
--- Worked from home: 3.9%
KAD Photo // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Average commute to work: 29 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 51.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 73%
--- Carpooled: 6.8%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 2.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.5%
--- Worked from home: 15.9%
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31 / 50- Average commute to work: 29 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 18.2%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 13.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 78%
--- Carpooled: 12.1%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 2.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 5.8%
Canva
32 / 50- Average commute to work: 29.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 53.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82%
--- Carpooled: 8.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.4%
--- Walked: 0.7%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 7.9%
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Average commute to work: 29.5 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 40.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 76.2%
--- Carpooled: 8.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 0.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.8%
--- Worked from home: 13.4%
Canva
34 / 50- Average commute to work: 29.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.9%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 66.8%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 81.8%
--- Carpooled: 10.2%
--- Public transportation: 1%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 4.9%
Mary Terriberry // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Average commute to work: 29.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 63.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 86.8%
--- Carpooled: 7.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.4%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.4%
--- Worked from home: 4.5%
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36 / 50- Average commute to work: 30.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 8.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 75.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.4%
--- Carpooled: 11.7%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 1%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 2.8%
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Average commute to work: 30.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 10.6%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 51.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.1%
--- Carpooled: 7.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 0.4%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.2%
--- Worked from home: 7.7%
Constantine Lukashin // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Average commute to work: 30.6 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.4%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.1%
--- Carpooled: 11.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.4%
--- Worked from home: 6.2%
Kirkam // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Average commute to work: 30.8 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 9.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 53.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 86%
--- Carpooled: 8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.3%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.8%
--- Worked from home: 4%
Scott Alan Ritchie // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Average commute to work: 30.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 43.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.7%
--- Carpooled: 8.6%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 0.7%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 2.5%
--- Worked from home: 8.2%
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41 / 50- Average commute to work: 31.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 14.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 33.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 85.9%
--- Carpooled: 7.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0.3%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.3%
--- Worked from home: 3.2%
P W L Photography // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Average commute to work: 31.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 22.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 38.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 76.7%
--- Carpooled: 14.4%
--- Public transportation: 0.3%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0%
--- Worked from home: 7.7%
Wileydoc // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Average commute to work: 31.9 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 61.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.4%
--- Carpooled: 9.2%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 1.4%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.1%
--- Worked from home: 4.9%
Wileydoc / Shutterstock
44 / 50- Average commute to work: 32 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 51.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.9%
--- Carpooled: 9.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.8%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.5%
--- Worked from home: 8.9%
Canva
45 / 50- Average commute to work: 32.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 7.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 57.6%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.7%
--- Carpooled: 10.7%
--- Public transportation: 0.6%
--- Walked: 0.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 7.7%
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Toribio93 // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Average commute to work: 33.1 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 11.5%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 55.5%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 79.1%
--- Carpooled: 7.5%
--- Public transportation: 0.2%
--- Walked: 1.6%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.2%
--- Worked from home: 11.4%
David Garrison // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Average commute to work: 33.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 13.1%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 67.7%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82.6%
--- Carpooled: 7.9%
--- Public transportation: 0.1%
--- Walked: 0.9%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.6%
--- Worked from home: 7.9%
D Guest Smith // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Average commute to work: 34.4 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 22.8%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 46.2%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 85.3%
--- Carpooled: 9.5%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.3%
--- Bicycle: 0.1%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 1.9%
--- Worked from home: 3%
aceshot1 // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Average commute to work: 35.7 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 15.3%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 19.9%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 82%
--- Carpooled: 9.8%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.2%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.9%
--- Worked from home: 7%
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Average commute to work: 39.3 minutes
- Share with commutes over an hour: 27.7%
- Share that worked outside their county of residence: 21.3%
- Means of transportation to work:
--- Drove alone: 83.5%
--- Carpooled: 12.1%
--- Public transportation: 0%
--- Walked: 0.2%
--- Bicycle: 0%
--- Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 0.3%
--- Worked from home: 3.9%
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