See what the average commute is in Essex County, VA

American commutes are getting longer, with a U.S. Census Bureau report released in 2021 revealing the average one-way commute in 2019 reached a record high of 27.6 minutes. Combined with high gas prices, workers' daily commutes are increasingly time-consuming and expensive—so much so that some are calling for commutes to count as part of the workday.

Even worse are travel times for "super commuters"—that unlucky 10% of Americans traveling more than one hour each way to punch a clock.

Stacker compiled statistics about the average commute in Essex County using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Statistics are calculated based on 2020 5-year estimates. Essex County has a longer commute than three out of six neighboring counties, with Lancaster County, VA having the shortest commute at 26.5 minutes.

Essex County commuting by the numbers
- Average commute: 36.3 minutes
--- 26.7% higher than state average
--- #21 worst commute in the state
- Workers with 1+ hour commute: 25.6%
- Workers who drive to work: 92.1%
--- Workers who carpool to work: 10.8%
- Workers who take public transport to work: 0.0%
- Workers who work from home: 5.1%
- Left for work between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.: 21.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 56.3%

Commutes in neighboring counties
#1. Lancaster County, VA: 26.5 minutes
#2. Richmond County, VA: 27.9 minutes
#3. Middlesex County, VA: 29.1 minutes
#4. Essex County, VA: 36.3 minutes
#5. King George County, VA: 36.4 minutes
#6. King and Queen County, VA: 36.8 minutes
#7. Westmoreland County, VA: 41.4 minutes

Counties with the best commute in Virginia
#1. Norton city: 11.8 minutes
#2. Lexington city: 13.0 minutes
#3. Covington city: 15.9 minutes

Counties with the worst commute in Virginia
#1. Surry County: 42.2 minutes
#2. Manassas Park city: 41.6 minutes
#3. Westmoreland County: 41.4 minutes