The best cities for commuters

When people say, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey," they probably aren't talking about commuting. But, believe it or not, some commutes are worth savoring. In fact, some cities have made commuting downright enjoyable - or at least relatively painless.

What makes for a great commute? We surveyed over 1,400 commuters to see what they value most. A full 25% said that time was the most important factor, 19% called out consistency, and 13% pointed to cost.

We then analyzed data across millions of Lyft rides, supplemented by public data sources, to see where travelers enjoyed the shortest, cheapest, and greenest commutes, as well as the most vibrant downtowns to reward their travels. (To compare big apples to big apples, we limited the data set to 35 cities in the U.S. with populations over 500,000.) Then we combined those scores to give each city a final, overall score. (See our methodology section for more details.)

Quickest commutes

In a country where the typical employee spends more than a quarter of their day working, maximizing free time - and minimizing commute time - matters. The cities below offer some of the shortest commutes in America.

Shortest commute time: On average, commuters spend about 25 minutes getting to/from work. But some cities, notably Columbus, Memphis, and Milwaukee have some of the fastest commutes, at around 22 minutes. Over the course of a year, this difference adds up to 13 hours.

Fastest commutes: But not all minutes are created equal. Ten minutes spent cruising on a highway is less painful than ten minutes spent bumper-to-bumper. According to Lyft's data, commuters in Fort Worth, Memphis, and Detroit average over 27 mph, 4 mph faster than the average.

Least-congested commutes: The most notorious commutes aren't just slow - they are much slower than non-commute travel along the same route. As Eric Bourassa, director of transportation at Boston's Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) puts it: "On a Saturday night, it might take you 20 minutes to get home, but on a Friday afternoon, it might take you six times as long. People feel that." Only two cities do not experience slower travel during commuting hours, according to Lyft data: Columbus (1.3% faster) and Las Vegas (6.3% faster). Overall, cities experience 8% slower travel, on average.

And the winner is: Columbus, Ohio

Cheapest commutes

Commutes don't just cost time, they cost money: Tolls and parking can be significant expenses for the 68.7% of Americans who commute to work alone in a vehicle each day. And for the small share of Americans who take public transit to work, fares can add up as well. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, individual households in the U.S. spent $12,295 on transportation - about 17% of all household expenditures (second only to housing).

Cheapest parking: According to SpotHero, New York City is the priciest place to park in the country - costing at least $350 a month. But in lower-density cities like Memphis, Columbus, and Houston, the expense is often under $40 a month.

Lowest fuel costs: Multiplying regional gas prices with the average length (in miles) of a commute in that region, we estimate that the average monthly cost of gas for commuting is Albuquerque's$34; Milwaukee comes in on the low end ($25 and under), and San Jose and San Diego are among the most expensive, at $50.

Cheapest public transit: On average, commuting via public transit costs around $70 a month. Once again, New York City is at the high end ($132), and smaller cities like Memphis ($25) and Albuquerque ($28) are at the low end (this data was collected before Albuquerque eliminated its transit fares entirely in late 2023). It's worth noting, however, that the cost of public transit often correlates with the quality of the service (e.g., it takes nearly twice as long to commute by public transit in Memphis than in New York).

And the winner is: Memphis, TN

Cleanest commutes

In the U.S., transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And commutes are a big part of that: An average 15-mile commute in a private vehicle can lead to, roughly, an additional two to six tons of C02 emissions each year. Overall, people who live in (and take advantage of) cities that offer alternatives to driving a personal vehicle - biking, walking, public transit, etc. - have dramatically lower carbon footprints.

Most bike-friendly: San Francisco leads in the share of commuters who bike to work (over 3%), likely due to its favorable weather conditions and strong biking culture and infrastructure. Plus, Lyft-operated Bay Wheels is responsible for nearly 200,000 trips a month.

Most carpoolers: On average, roughly 9% of people carpool to work, but this percentage is highest in southwest cities, like El Paso, San Antonio, and Las Vegas. Why? In Texas, it may be due to the large number of HOV lanes that incentivize driving with another passenger to avoid tolls.

Most walkers: On average, only 3% of Americans walk to work. But given that college towns tend to have the highest share of walking commuters, it's no surprise that Boston - home to 44 institutions of higher learning - overperforms. A full 13% of commuters there walk to work.

Most-used public transit: Most New Yorkers agree: The best way to get around the city is the subway, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While an average of 3% of commuters nationwide take public transit, New York clocks in at a whopping 43%.

Fewest drivers: Overall, about three-quarters of Americans drive a private fuel-based vehicle to work. But in some cities - like, again, New York, Boston, and San Francisco - the plurality of commuters choose not to drive. According to Bourassa, this makes sense: It's easier to avoid car use "in cities that were established before the automobile." Driving EVs (which people most commonly use in the Californian cities of San Jose, San Francisco, and San Diego) can substantially reduce the impact of driving, so we removed EV miles traveled from our calculations.

And the winner is: New York, NY

Most vibrant downtowns

Thinking beyond the literal journey, what might make a commute better? In this last section, we look at the cities with the most vibrant downtowns - as indicated by the presence of bars and shops - that draw people to work and, just maybe, convince them to stay a while.

Busiest downtowns: COVID took a toll on almost all city downtowns, and many have not fully recovered, leading to vacant storefronts and empty streets that are less enticing to the daily commuter. But according to Lyft data, in cities like Columbus and Baltimore, the recovery in downtown activity now exceeds 2019 levels.

Most bustling happy hours: Let's be honest - what really makes going to the office worth it? The likelihood of getting a drink and gossiping with your friends or coworkers afterward. And in Washington, D.C., New York,and San Francisco, you are pretty darn likely - 40% more than average, according to Lyft data - to go to a bar or restaurant after work.

Busiest shoppers: Beyond happy hour, the possibility of doing some shopping after work can make a commuter's trip downtown worth it. Lyft data suggests that the retail-rich cities of San Francisco and New York are most likely to entice commuters.

Green space: Taking a walk in a park before or after work can also add to a downtown's attractiveness, so we included how much land in a city is devoted to green spaceas a metric.

Vacancy rates: Empty offices suggest a less lively downtown, so we gave a city's vacancy ratea negative value when adding all the results together to calculate each city's vibrancy scores.

And the winner is: New York, NY

Best commutes

Considering all four measures, the very best city for commuters is Columbus, Ohio, due to its speedy, cheap commutes to a booming downtown.

Methodology

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