These states have to deal with the longest (and shortest) commute times

For millions of Americans, the workday doesn’t begin at the office: it starts in traffic, on a train platform or staring down a highway that refuses to move. And depending on where you live, that daily ritual can be slightly inconvenient or feel like an endurance sport.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey and analyzed by ProfitDuel puts some hard numbers behind what commuters already know: geography matters—a lot—when it comes to how long it takes to get to work.

At the long-commute end of the spectrum, New York takes the crown. Workers in the Empire State average a 33.2-minute trip each way, which is the longest in the country. Even with one of the most robust public transit systems in the U.S., density, distance and sheer volume still add up. Fewer than half of New York workers drive alone, but trains, buses and long cross-borough journeys stretch the clock anyway.

Maryland (32.3 minutes) and New Jersey (31.9 minutes) follow close behind, classic “spillover” states where commutes often involve crossing state lines into major job hubs like Washington, D.C. and New York City. Massachusetts (30.6 minutes) and California (29.7 minutes) round out the top five, where historic infrastructure, congestion and sprawl can make even modest distances feel long

If you zoom out to the national level, it becomes clear that long commutes are becoming more common. The share of U.S. workers spending 60 minutes or more getting to work has crept up over the past 20 years, reaching about 9.8 percent in 2024. (That means nearly one in 10 commuters clock an hour or more each way.) Average commute times have edged upward as well, hitting roughly 27.6 minutes nationwide.

On the flip side, if you’re looking for a short commute, you’ll need to head inland from the coastal megacities. North Dakota leads the nation with an average commute of just 17.5 minutes, followed by South Dakota (18.5 minutes), Montana (19.5 minutes), Wyoming (19.7 minutes) and Alaska (19.8 minutes).

These states trade packed subways and bumper-to-bumper highways for open roads and proximity, but it’s not without a catch. Shorter commutes often mean heavier reliance on driving alone and fewer public transit options. But for many workers, reclaiming 20 or 30 minutes a day is a trade they’ll happily take.

Whether you’re cramming onto a subway platform or cruising down an empty stretch of highway, it’s clear: where you live definitely dictates how much of your life gets spent just trying to get to work.

States with the longest average commute times

1. New York - 33.2 minutes
2. Maryland - 32.3 minutes
3. New Jersey - 31.9 minutes
4. Massachusetts - 30.6 minutes
5. California - 29.7 minutes

States with the shortest average commute times

1. North Dakota - 17.5 minutes
2. South Dakota - 18.5 minutes
3. Montana - 19.5 minutes
4. Wyoming - 19.7 minutes
5. Alaska - 19.8 minutes