After years of remote-work relief, Americans are back behind the wheel. Yardi Kube’s latest study shows the average one-way commute reached 27.2 minutes in 2024, up from 25.6 minutes in 2021 and nearly back to 2019’s 27.6 minutes. However, Tucson actually improved its commute time, ranking among the Cities with the Best Commute in the U.S.
Over the past several years, the daily commute has become a powerful indicator of how the American workplace continues to evolve. What was once a predictable routine was dramatically disrupted by the rapid shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions traded highway traffic on the way to work for home offices, redefining where and how work gets done. Yet as companies reestablish in-person operations and hybrid schedules, the familiar rhythm of commuting is steadily returning. Recent U.S. Census data provides a clear view of this transformation. In 2019, before the pandemic, the average one-way commute time stood at 27.6 minutes. By 2021, when remote work reached its peak with over 27.6 million Americans working from home, average commute times fell to 25.6 minutes, the lowest in recent history.
LOCAL NEWS: Phoenix housing market outpaces national trends again in 2025…