With the majority of Americans returning to the office, commutes are undoubtedly worsening.
This resurgence of in-person work has brought back the dreaded daily commute, impacting workers’ time, health, and overall well-being. SmartAsset predicts that some workers will spend almost 222 hours driving to and from work.
This blog post will delve into the cities with the most challenging commutes, examining the reasons behind the congestion and the real-life consequences for residents.
The cities discussed include Stockton, Bakersfield, Garland, Glendale, Orlando, Las Vegas, El Paso, Baton Rouge, Aurora, and Winston-Salem.
1. Stockton, California: The King of Congestion
Located 90 minutes from San Francisco, Stockton, California, claims the title of having the worst commute in America.
The average worker in Stockton faces a commute of around 33 minutes, but what’s particularly alarming is that over 17% of workers endure commutes lasting longer than an hour—the second-highest percentage overall.
Between 2016 and 2021, Stockton workers experienced a 6.21% increase in their commute times.
This proximity to San Francisco, combined with more affordable housing, may contribute to the high number of long-distance commuters.
2. Bakersfield, California: A Rapidly Worsening Situation
Bakersfield closely follows Stockton as another California city plagued by bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Commute times in Bakersfield have seen a significant 10.5% increase between 2016 and 2021, making it one of the top spots for worsening commutes.
On average, Bakersfield commuters spend around 24 minutes on the road. This substantial increase in travel time highlights the growing challenges faced by Bakersfield residents.
3. Garland, Texas: High Percentage of Commuters
Garland, Texas, presents a different kind of challenge. A staggering 86.1% of Garland workers are commuters, leading to inevitable frustrations.
The city has the seventh-highest commute time at 30 minutes. Around 9.1% of commuters experience drives over an hour.
The average commute time in Garland increased by 2.37% between 2016 and 2021. The high percentage of commuters contributes to the overall congestion and longer travel times.
4. Glendale, Arizona
If a lengthy commute sounds like a nightmare, Glendale, Arizona, might not be the place for you.
Roughly 1 in 10 workers commute for more than an hour, ranking as the 12th highest in the study. On average, Glendale’s commute time comes in at just over 28 minutes.
5. Orlando, Florida
Home to Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, faces heavy traffic competition.
Four-fifths of Orlando workers commute to their place of employment, spending an average of 26 minutes on the road. Less than 5% of commuters spend more than an hour driving to work.
6. Las Vegas, Nevada
Nearly 87% of workers in Las Vegas, Nevada, drive to their jobs every day. As a major tourist destination, their average commute time ranks in the top third of the study at 25.7 minutes.
Five percent of workers spend more than an hour on their commutes to work, and the percentage of those who do so increased by 0.8% from 2016 to 2021.
7. El Paso, Texas
Of roughly 678,000 residents, 89.9% of El Paso’s workforce commutes to work. Commuters spend a whopping 14.13% of their median household income on transportation costs in the city and surrounding areas.
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
As the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge has the 11th-highest percentage of commuters in the workforce, at 90.2%.
While the average travel time is just under 23 minutes, more than 6% of workers have a commute longer than one hour.
Baton Rouge commuters spend about 12.24% of a year’s income on transportation in the city.
9. Aurora, Colorado
With lower housing costs than Denver, many enjoy living in Aurora, which is located 17 miles outside the capital city.
Aurora has the 12th-highest average commute time, at 28.5 minutes. Roughly 6.8% of workers have commutes that last over an hour.
10. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, located 30 miles from Greensboro, is among the top ten cities with the worst commutes.
With 85% of its workers commuting to the office, Winston-Salem residents spend much of their time in traffic.
Transportation costs residents 12.63% of their income, and drivers spend an average of 21.6 minutes on the road.
Travel times for the average commuter in Winston-Salem increased by 6% between 2016 and 2021.
The Hidden Costs: How Commuting Impacts Your Well-being
Health Impacts
Lengthy commutes cost Americans more than just time and money; they also negatively impact their health.
A Gallup poll studied the health of more than 170,000 workers and found that adults who commute more than 90 minutes one way to work had an average health index score of just 63.9.
In comparison, people who commuted 10 minutes or less to work had an average score of 69.2.
The same health study reveals that one in three employees with a commute of more than 90 minutes report having a neck or back condition causing recurrent pain in the past 12 months.
This figure drops to one in four among those who commute 10 minutes or less. Long commutes are also linked to a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with high cholesterol.
Financial Burdens
A common reason for workers to commute is the perception that they save money on housing costs in the suburbs versus city living.
However, commuting isn’t always more affordable. SmartAsset found that the average housing cost in many metro areas is higher than in the big cities they’re branched off from.
For example, in Baltimore, housing costs about $330 more in the metro area. Furthermore, cities like El Paso and Winston-Salem see commuters spending a significant percentage of their income on transportation.
Alicia Richards