RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Shortest commutes, US states · 2020

US states with the shortest mean travel time to work (2020 ACS). South Dakota leads at 17.3. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAVERAGE COMMUTEVS 2000

USUnited States331,449,28126.9–

01South Dakota, SDSD907,42817.3+48%

02North Dakota, NDND784,84117.6+54%

03Wyoming, WYWY582,39717.9+35%

04Montana, MTMT1,116,87518.4+48%

05Nebraska, NENE1,978,70718.9+59%

06Alaska, AKAK735,70618.9+45%

07Iowa, IAIA3,210,50719.5+56%

08Kansas, KSKS2,947,19719.6+55%

09Idaho, IDID1,934,26221.2+55%

10Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39121.8+46%

11Utah, UTUT3,392,33122.0+55%

12Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63422.0+51%

13Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87222.2+62%

14New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24622.7+52%

15Vermont, VTVT647,10623.3+57%

16Ohio, OHOH11,810,29323.7+59%

17Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82423.7+50%

18Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44523.8+64%

19Indiana, ININ6,851,07323.9+57%

20Missouri, MOMO6,191,81423.9+49%

21Oregon, OROR4,254,29323.9+61%

22Maine, MEME1,387,81724.3+55%

23Nevada, NVNV3,184,61224.6+67%

24Michigan, MIMI10,077,76124.6+52%

25North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40424.9+57%

26South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22525.1+56%

27Alabama, ALAL5,086,76825.2+52%

28Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77925.2+53%

29Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80125.3+69%

30Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38325.4+56%

31Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83825.8+53%

32Colorado, COCO5,862,18925.8+57%

33Louisiana, LALA4,611,96125.8+50%

34West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37326.1+43%

35Delaware, DEDE1,021,19126.2+66%

36Texas, TXTX30,188,42426.6+52%

37Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50826.7+62%

38Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23527.1+46%

39Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63927.1+57%

40New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86827.4+51%

41Florida, FLFL22,416,07727.9+57%

42Washington, WAWA7,816,11628.0+60%

43Virginia, VAVA8,705,17028.6+53%

44Georgia, GAGA10,940,40728.7+47%

45Illinois, ILIL12,694,79829.0+43%

46California, CACA39,287,37729.8+52%

47Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05630.0+57%

48District of Columbia, DCDC681,29430.9+59%

49New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80932.0+47%

50Maryland, MDMD6,206,01133.0+46%

51New York, NYNY19,852,36633.5+47%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest average commute?

South Dakota ranks #1 with 17.3 (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by average commute?

South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is average commute measured?

Mean travel time to work, one way, in minutes. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.