For millions of American workers, the daily commute takes a meaningful share of the workday. Census data shows that average travel times vary considerably across states, with longer journeys especially common in densely populated regions and states connected to major employment centers.
Maryland recorded the highest average commute among states in the Census analysis, followed by New York and New Jersey. Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania also ranked near the top.
These figures help show how geography, housing patterns, transportation networks, and employment concentration can shape the time people spend traveling between home and work each day.
1. Maryland
Maryland has the longest average commute among the states included in the Census analysis, with workers spending an average of 32.2 minutes traveling to work…