Explore Commuting Trends Difference Across US

In today's society, commuting is essential as millions of people travel to work using different modes of transportation every day. From walking and cycling to modern options like cars, buses, and metro, the evolution of commute methods has offered diversity and convenience. Working from home has become the second largest commute mode in the US post-pandemic, redefining the traditional commute concept. Our analysis of commute data across various states led to the following findings:

• In 2022, the equivalent average wage losses in commute time varied widely among states, with the highest loss of $12.2K in DC, 2.5 times higher than that in Montana.

• Driving alone was the major commute mode in the US, accounting for 67.4% in 2022. DC is the lowest at 28% due to a high usage of public transportation, biking, and walking.

• 15% of US commuters worked from home in 2022, with the highest rate of 33.8% recorded in DC. The rates decreased in 50 states, except for Wyoming.

• Although carpooling had a low average rate of 9.9% nationwide in 2022, it was the second most popular choice after driving alone in Hawaii.

• The highest participation rates of commute modes for people aged from 16 to 24 varied by state, with driving alone not being the top choice in any state.

Equivalent Average Wage Losses in Commute Time Varied by State

Commuting extends working hours, leading to unpaid working time which can be considered as a loss. Considering the average wages and commute time across states, we determined the equivalent average wage loss for employees due to commuting, with employees in DC experiencing the greatest loss due to their high average wages and longer commute times, with an annual loss of $12.2K, 2.5 times greater than that in Montana.

Driving Alone Was the Most Common Commute Mode in the US, with 67.4% in 2022

Driving alone was the top choice for commuting in every state except for DC, where only 28% of commuters drove alone, opting more for public transportation, biking, and walking. As one of the most congested districts in the US, DC stands out for its lower reliance on driving due to high parking costs and gas prices, ranking fifth and tenth nationwide. Public transportation was particularly popular, with 18.7% of commuters using it, supported by DC's extensive transit network with over 30% ridership before 2019.The public transportation system in New York is also highly developed, with only 49% of commuters driving. The metro system in DC, featuring six lines covering the entire district, provides convenient commuting options.

Working from Home: Before and After the Pandemic

15% of all commuters worked from Home in 2022, with DC having the highest rate of 33.8%, mainly due to its abundance of consulting firms and government offices. While the number of people working from home decreased in 50 states compared to 2021, it increased only in Wyoming.

DC saw the largest drop in remote work to 14.5%, as companies and government sectors announced the return to office policy in 2022, leading to a 3% increase in driving to work despite high fuel prices. Washington is another state that has a large drop in remote work to 3.7%, since big companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks changed the policy from home to office. Conversely, Wyoming saw an increase of 0.16% in remote work. In a research, Cheyenne in Wyoming was nominated as a top city for remote work, and West Virginia's Ascend WV Program has attracted remote workers with $12000 cash incentives and a year of free outdoor recreation, with a slight decrease of 1% in remote work.

Carpools and Ride Share in the US

In the US, carpooling is not very particular, with only a 9.9% rate. However, it is the second most popular choice in Hawaii after driving alone, at 15% in 2022. This is partly due to the high cost of housing in Hawaii, leading many young adults to live with their parents and carpool to work. Hawaii also ranks second in average household size nationwide, supporting this trend.

Most Popular Commute Mode for People Aged 16-24 By Each State

The participation rates of young people aged 16-24 in different types of commute varied by state. In 2022, carpooling had the highest proportion in 22 states, public transportation in 17 states, and motorcycles, bicycles, and other modes in 12 states. Driving alone was not prominent in any state, likely due to economic challenges. According to research from the Brookings Institution, young people face more financial uncertainty compared to prior generations, needing to save up or wait until they can afford a vehicle.

Methodology

We collected data from the Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to compare average travel time to work and annual income by state, to examine the impact on commute time.

Next, we collected rates of driving alone, working at home, and carpooling from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for all states, to analyze variations and potential reasons.

Finally, using Census Bureau data on commute modes, we calculated the highest participation rates for Young People Aged 16-24 in each state and created a map highlighting the predominant type in each area.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.