See what the average commute is in Fairfax, 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 Fairfax city using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Statistics are calculated based on 2020 5-year estimates. Fairfax city has a shorter commute than seven out of nine neighboring counties, with Charles County, MD having the longest commute at 45.4 minutes.

Fairfax city commuting by the numbers
- Average commute: 30.8 minutes
--- 7.5% higher than state average
--- #46 worst commute in the state
- Workers with 1+ hour commute: 10.8%
- Workers who drive to work: 78.9%
--- Workers who carpool to work: 9.5%
- Workers who take public transport to work: 6.4%
- Workers who work from home: 9.8%
- Left for work between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.: 6.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 59.7%

Commutes in neighboring counties
#1. Falls Church city, VA: 28.2 minutes
#2. Arlington County, VA: 29.1 minutes
#3. Fairfax, VA: 30.8 minutes
#3. Fairfax city, VA: 30.8 minutes
#5. Alexandria city, VA: 32.0 minutes
#6. Loudoun County, VA: 34.3 minutes
#7. Montgomery County, MD: 34.4 minutes
#8. Prince George's County, MD: 37.0 minutes
#9. Prince William County, VA: 39.8 minutes
#10. Charles County, MD: 45.4 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