The Zip Code With the Longest Commute in Every State

Special Report

Published: May 29, 2022 8:00 pm

The share of Americans working from home skyrocketed during the pandemic. A recent Gallup study found that 45% of full-time workers in the United States – and two-thirds of white-collar workers – were doing their job remotely at least some of the time.

The shift is proving to be a positive development for millions of Americans. Gallup reports that over 90% of remote workers hope that the trend continues after the pandemic, citing the lack of commute time as the chief benefit. (Here is a look at the state where the most people are working from home.)

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute time in the United States is 26.9 minutes. For those who travel to and from work every Monday through Friday, this translates to about 4.5 hours per week, or nearly 10 days a year.

Of course, commute times vary from person to person, but in some parts of the country, workers are far more likely to have longer commutes than in others. Using census data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the ZIP code with the longest commute in every state.

Among the places on this list, average commute times range from about 26 minutes up to over an hour. Over the course of a week, these commute times add up, from over four hours to 11 – and from over nine days to over three weeks over the course of a year. In most of the ZIP codes on this list, commuters spend six days or more commuting per year than the typical commuter across the state as a whole.

In several of the places on this list, the share of commuters using public transit exceeds the comparable statewide average. In most cases, public transportation is less direct than simply driving from door to door, adding to overall commute time. In most of these ZIP codes, however, commuters are more likely to drive to work alone than commuters statewide, suggesting that long commutes are the result of traffic congestion or greater distance to the workplace. Here is a look at the cities where people lose the most time driving each year.

Click here to see the ZIP code with the longest commute in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology

Source: Allard1 / iStock via Getty Images

Alabama: 36521
> Location: Chunchula
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 46.4 (Alabama: 25.2)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 92.4% (Alabama: 84.9%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 0.8% (Alabama: 8.3%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Alabama: 0.3%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 381

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Knik-Fairview, AK 99654, USA - panoramio by Armouredsaint

Knik-Fairview, AK 99654, USA - panoramio (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Armouredsaint

Alaska: 99654
> Location: Knik-Fairview
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 35.9 (Alaska: 18.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 73.5% (Alaska: 68.1%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.9% (Alaska: 12.1%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% (Alaska: 1.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 42

ALSO READ: The Worst City to Drive in Every State

Pima County Courthouse 10 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Gillfoto

Arizona: 85736
> Location: Three Points
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 55.4 (Arizona: 25.8)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 83.1% (Arizona: 74.5%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.6% (Arizona: 10.7%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Arizona: 1.6%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 254

Hughes AR 001 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported) by Thomas R Machnitzki

Arkansas: 72348
> Location: Hughes
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 39.8 (Arkansas: 21.8)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 86.6% (Arkansas: 82.3%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.6% (Arkansas: 10.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% (Arkansas: 0.3%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 202

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10889945225 dcdae75ce8 c moutain house high (cropped) by Tranistrider1979

10889945225 dcdae75ce8 c moutain house high (cropped) (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Tranistrider1979

California: 95391
> Location: Mountain House
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 66.3 (California: 29.8)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 64.2% (California: 72.1%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 16.3% (California: 10.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 6.1% (California: 4.6%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 1,192

Source: Cavan Images / iStock via Getty Images

Colorado: 80117
> Location: Kiowa
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 45.6 (Colorado: 25.8)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.1% (Colorado: 72.9%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.6% (Colorado: 8.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Colorado: 2.8%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 265

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Source: Tyler Blodgett / iStock via Getty Images

Connecticut: 06880
> Location: Westport
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 42.1 (Connecticut: 26.7)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 52.2% (Connecticut: 76.3%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 4.7% (Connecticut: 7.8%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 20.1% (Connecticut: 4.4%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 228

ALSO READ: This State Has the Best Highways in America

Delaware National Guard by The National Guard

Delaware National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

Delaware: 19734
> Location: Townsend
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 35.9 (Delaware: 26.2)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.8% (Delaware: 78.8%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.5% (Delaware: 8.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.0% (Delaware: 2.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 46

Solivita (CC BY-SA 2.0) by AESanfacon

Florida: 34759
> Location: Poinciana
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 48.4 (Florida: 27.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 78.1% (Florida: 77.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 15.8% (Florida: 9.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.9% (Florida: 1.6%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 849

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Between Hawkinsville and Rentz Georgia. by JOSHUA

Between Hawkinsville and Rentz Georgia. (CC BY-NC 2.0) by JOSHUA

Georgia: 31075
> Location: Rentz
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 46.6 (Georgia: 28.7)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 96.5% (Georgia: 77.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 3.5% (Georgia: 9.3%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Georgia: 1.9%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 493

Kula Kai Cave (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by mifl68

Hawaii: 96737
> Location: Hawaiian Ocean View
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 65.6 (Hawaii: 27.1)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 52.0% (Hawaii: 67.6%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 39.2% (Hawaii: 13.4%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Hawaii: 5.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 62

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Source: Nancy Strohm / iStock via Getty Images

Idaho: 83641
> Location: Melba
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 36.4 (Idaho: 21.2)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.6% (Idaho: 77.8%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.2% (Idaho: 9.3%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Idaho: 0.6%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 89

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Source: JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

Illinois: 60649
> Location: Chicago
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 43.5 (Illinois: 29.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 46.3% (Illinois: 71.5%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 5.3% (Illinois: 7.8%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 39.4% (Illinois: 8.8%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 636

Photo from Small Town Indiana photo survey. by Chris Flook

Photo from Small Town Indiana photo survey. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) by Chris Flook

Indiana: 47868
> Location: Poland
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 42.6 (Indiana: 23.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 81.4% (Indiana: 81.3%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.8% (Indiana: 9.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Indiana: 0.9%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 445

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Source: gyro / iStock via Getty Images

Iowa: 50166
> Location: Milo
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 35.7 (Iowa: 19.5)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 92.0% (Iowa: 80.2%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 4.1% (Iowa: 8.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Iowa: 0.9%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 268

IMG_0384 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

Kansas: 66086
> Location: Tonganoxie
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 35.4 (Kansas: 19.6)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.5% (Kansas: 80.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.6% (Kansas: 8.9%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% (Kansas: 0.4%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 212

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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

Kentucky: 41311
> Location: Beattyville
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 44.6 (Kentucky: 23.7)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.9% (Kentucky: 81.2%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.9% (Kentucky: 9.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Kentucky: 0.9%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 274

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Closed Pringle Theatre in Glenmora, LA IMG 0152 by Hot Furnace

Closed Pringle Theatre in Glenmora, LA IMG 0152 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Hot Furnace

Louisiana: 71433
> Location: Glenmora
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 55.0 (Louisiana: 25.8)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 61.8% (Louisiana: 81.9%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.3% (Louisiana: 9.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Louisiana: 1.1%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 276

Loon Pond Shoreline (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Eric Kilby

Maine: 04001
> Location: Acton
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 39.9 (Maine: 24.3)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 86.3% (Maine: 77.2%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.2% (Maine: 9.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.6% (Maine: 0.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 142

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Maryland: 20616
> Location: Bryans Road
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 52.9 (Maryland: 33.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 81.7% (Maryland: 72.1%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.4% (Maryland: 8.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 6.4% (Maryland: 7.4%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 287

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Massachusetts: 02025
> Location: Cohasset
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 43.2 (Massachusetts: 30.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 58.2% (Massachusetts: 68.0%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 1.1% (Massachusetts: 7.3%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 22.9% (Massachusetts: 9.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 412

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Snow covered farmland (CC BY-ND 2.0) by gerrybuckel

Michigan: 48412
> Location: Attica
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 42.4 (Michigan: 24.6)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 83.7% (Michigan: 80.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.5% (Michigan: 8.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% (Michigan: 1.3%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 625

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Forest path at Sherburne Natio... by Lorie Shaull

Forest path at Sherburne Natio... (CC BY 2.0) by Lorie Shaull

Minnesota: 55398
> Location: Zimmerman
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 38.6 (Minnesota: 23.8)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.7% (Minnesota: 76.0%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.7% (Minnesota: 8.1%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% (Minnesota: 3.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 392

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Mississippi: 39483
> Location: Foxworth
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 47.8 (Mississippi: 25.2)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.8% (Mississippi: 84.6%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 11.9% (Mississippi: 9.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Mississippi: 0.3%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 209

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Gentle Barn (CC BY 2.0) by Chris Yunker

Missouri: 63023
> Location: Dittmer
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 44.8 (Missouri: 23.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 85.7% (Missouri: 80.8%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.6% (Missouri: 8.4%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Missouri: 1.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 397

Source: beachgrampa / Getty Images

Montana: 59870
> Location: Stevensville
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 31.4 (Montana: 18.4)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 68.7% (Montana: 75.2%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 13.9% (Montana: 9.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.1% (Montana: 0.7%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 66

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Source: Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Nebraska: 68372
> Location: Hickman
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 29.9 (Nebraska: 18.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 85.5% (Nebraska: 80.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.4% (Nebraska: 9.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Nebraska: 0.6%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 134

ALSO READ: The Worst City to Drive in Every State

Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons

Nevada: 89815
> Location: Spring Creek
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 42.9 (Nevada: 24.6)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 62.4% (Nevada: 76.8%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 16.2% (Nevada: 10.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 15.5% (Nevada: 2.9%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 102

White Buffalo Trading Post, General Store, Center Barnstead New Hampshire by John Phelan

White Buffalo Trading Post, General Store, Center Barnstead New Hampshire (CC BY-SA 4.0) by John Phelan

New Hampshire: 03225
> Location: Center Barnstead
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 41.9 (New Hampshire: 27.4)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.3% (New Hampshire: 79.5%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.9% (New Hampshire: 7.7%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.5% (New Hampshire: 0.8%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 145

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Hewitt, New Jersey (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

New Jersey: 07421
> Location: Hewitt
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 51.1 (New Jersey: 32.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 71.1% (New Jersey: 69.6%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 7.7% (New Jersey: 7.8%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 4.8% (New Jersey: 10.8%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 498

Source: Jordan Acuff-Patton / iStock via Getty Images

New Mexico: 87323
> Location: Thoreau
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 40.1 (New Mexico: 22.7)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 67.1% (New Mexico: 79.1%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.8% (New Mexico: 10.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.3% (New Mexico: 1.0%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 93

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Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images

New York: 11692
> Location: New York
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 55.8 (New York: 33.5)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 40.5% (New York: 52.3%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.5% (New York: 6.4%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 45.7% (New York: 26.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 963

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Springtime in the Cataloochee Section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina by JR P

Springtime in the Cataloochee Section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina (CC BY-NC 2.0) by JR P

North Carolina: 28679
> Location: Cove Creek
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 43.7 (North Carolina: 24.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 85.2% (North Carolina: 79.3%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.2% (North Carolina: 9.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (North Carolina: 1.0%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 549

Horace, North Dakota (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrew Filer

North Dakota: 58047
> Location: Horace
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 25.8 (North Dakota: 17.6)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 85.1% (North Dakota: 80.8%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.2% (North Dakota: 8.9%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (North Dakota: 0.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 38

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Tar Hollow State Park (Public domain) by Dan Keck

Ohio: 43135
> Location: Laurelville
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 44.7 (Ohio: 23.7)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.1% (Ohio: 81.5%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 16.4% (Ohio: 7.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.6% (Ohio: 1.4%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 740

I-44 East - Luther Jones Wellston Chandler Stroud Sign by formulanone

I-44 East - Luther Jones Wellston Chandler Stroud Sign (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) by formulanone

Oklahoma: 74881
> Location: Wellston
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 40.5 (Oklahoma: 22.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.2% (Oklahoma: 81.6%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.4% (Oklahoma: 9.7%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Oklahoma: 0.4%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 261

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A view of Vernonia, Oregon by Geirfuglasker

A view of Vernonia, Oregon (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Geirfuglasker

Oregon: 97064
> Location: Vernonia
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 41.0 (Oregon: 23.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.4% (Oregon: 70.5%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.5% (Oregon: 9.4%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.8% (Oregon: 4.0%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 200

ALSO READ: This Is the State With the Most Dangerous Bridges

Matamoras PA Bridge (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Jared Kofsky

Pennsylvania: 18324
> Location: Saw Creek
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 64.4 (Pennsylvania: 27.1)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 76.7% (Pennsylvania: 74.4%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 10.0% (Pennsylvania: 8.2%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 5.5% (Pennsylvania: 5.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 883

Pascoag, Rhode Island (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

Rhode Island: 02859
> Location: Pascoag
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 37.8 (Rhode Island: 25.3)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 86.3% (Rhode Island: 79.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.4% (Rhode Island: 8.1%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.1% (Rhode Island: 2.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 60

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Neeses, SC (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Evanoco

South Carolina: 29107
> Location: Neeses
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 43.5 (South Carolina: 25.1)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 87.8% (South Carolina: 81.5%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.1% (South Carolina: 8.9%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (South Carolina: 0.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 277

Source: chapin31 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

South Dakota: 57730
> Location: Custer
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 28.5 (South Dakota: 17.3)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 74.3% (South Dakota: 80.0%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 6.5% (South Dakota: 8.1%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.5% (South Dakota: 0.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 59

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The Storytellers Museum (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Bonaquaer

Tennessee: 37098
> Location: Bon Aqua Junction
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 43.5 (Tennessee: 25.4)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 82.6% (Tennessee: 81.9%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.7% (Tennessee: 8.8%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Tennessee: 0.6%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 401

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Cleveland, TX, City Hall IMG 8271 by Billy Hathorn

Cleveland, TX, City Hall IMG 8271 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Billy Hathorn

Texas: 77328
> Location: Cleveland
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 47.5 (Texas: 26.6)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 82.5% (Texas: 78.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.6% (Texas: 9.9%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.2% (Texas: 1.3%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 1,171

Fairview, Utah (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

Utah: 84629
> Location: Fairview
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 35.3 (Utah: 22.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 76.9% (Utah: 74.4%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 12.2% (Utah: 10.4%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Utah: 2.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 125

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Sunset Vermont House (CC BY 2.0) by Peter

Vermont: 05677
> Location: Waterbury
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 33.4 (Vermont: 23.3)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 77.1% (Vermont: 74.4%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 8.3% (Vermont: 8.5%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 1.1% (Vermont: 1.2%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 69

View north along Virginia State Route 79 (Apple Mountain Road) from the overpass for Interstate 66 by Famartin

View north along Virginia State Route 79 (Apple Mountain Road) from the overpass for Interstate 66 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Famartin

Virginia: 22642
> Location: Apple Mountain Lake
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 51.8 (Virginia: 28.6)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 75.6% (Virginia: 74.9%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 15.0% (Virginia: 8.9%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Virginia: 4.0%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 458

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Peaceful Valley Historic District Scene by Jon Roanhaus

Peaceful Valley Historic District Scene (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Jon Roanhaus

Washington: 98266
> Location: Peaceful Valley
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 58.9 (Washington: 28.0)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 80.2% (Washington: 69.7%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 14.2% (Washington: 9.7%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (Washington: 6.0%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 335

ALSO READ: This Is the Worst City for Airport Layovers

Source: JZHunt / iStock via Getty Images

West Virginia: 25434
> Location: Paw Paw
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 51.4 (West Virginia: 26.1)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 79.1% (West Virginia: 82.0%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 5.6% (West Virginia: 8.6%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.0% reported (West Virginia: 0.8%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 143

Curious Goods in Superior, Wis... by Lorie Shaull

Curious Goods in Superior, Wis... (CC BY 2.0) by Lorie Shaull

Wisconsin: 54874
> Location: Superior
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 36.8 (Wisconsin: 22.2)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 83.4% (Wisconsin: 79.9%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 9.2% (Wisconsin: 7.7%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 0.5% (Wisconsin: 1.5%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 456

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Source: Flickr / hem_084

Wyoming: 83127
> Location: Star Valley Ranch
> Avg. commute time (minutes): 36.3 (Wyoming: 17.9)
> Share of commuters driving alone: 64.9% (Wyoming: 77.4%)
> Share of commuters carpooling: 17.8% (Wyoming: 10.0%)
> Share of commuters using public transit: 2.4% (Wyoming: 1.0%)
> No. of zip codes considered in ranking: 39

To determine the ZIP code with the longest commute in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of average commute times from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.

We used ZIP code tabulation areas — a census geography type which defines areal representations of United States Postal Service ZIP codes (USPS ZIP codes do not define geographic boundaries but instead are a network of mail delivery routes in a service area). We refer to Census ZCTAs as ZIP codes.

ZIP codes were excluded if average commute time estimates were not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 1,000 workers 16 years and over who did not work from home, or if the sampling error associated with a ZIP code’s data was deemed too high.

The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a ZIP code’s average commute time was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all ZIP codes’ average commute times. We similarly excluded ZIP codes that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.

ZIP codes were ranked based on their average commute time. To break ties, we used the share of workers with a commute of 45 minutes or longer.

Additional information on the share of commuters driving alone, carpooling, and using public transit are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.

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