The 50 Cities with the Worst Commutes in America

bad jokes that are actually funny — Shutterstock

It's a fundamental truth that everyone who has a commute is guaranteed to complain about it—regardless of how bad it truly is. Well, to help put your own commute in perspective, we dug into the data to figure out which cities have the longest (and truly worst) commutes overall. Some of the results are as you might expect: artery-clogged California dominates this list, as does the greater New York City area, which is home to more than 8 million people. But there are also a few surprises (Los Angeles doesn't even crack the top 25!). So take a look and see where you rank. And if you're living in one of these top cities, make sure you know the 7 Ways to Make Your Commute the Best Part of Your Day.

Our Methodology: All of these results were pulled from U.S. Census Bureau data for the 200 largest cities in the United States. Final "commute score" was calculated by combining the mean travel time to work, the percentage of the population who spend 60 minutes or more in their commute, the growth rate of a city, and considerations of the percentage who worked at home or biked/walked to work.

50 Oceanside, CA

Oceanside, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 175,464
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.42%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.90
60 minutes or more commute (%): 10.30%
Drove alone (%): 78.60%
Carpooled (%): 10.20%
Worked at home (%): 5.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.60%
Commute Score: 39.62

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49 Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, drunkest cities, happiest cities, flip a house, longest commutes, commute

Population: 211,277
3-Year Growth Rate: 4.21%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.30
60 minutes or more commute (%): 9.40%
Drove alone (%): 75.80%
Carpooled (%): 10.20%
Worked at home (%): 3.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 4.20%
Commute Score: 39.91

48 Anaheim, CA

Anaheim, happiest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 351,043
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.78%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.90
60 minutes or more commute (%): 10.30%
Drove alone (%): 76.50%
Carpooled (%): 12.70%
Worked at home (%): 3.20%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 2.70%
Commute Score: 39.98

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47 Modesto, CA

Modesto, happiest cities, longest commutes, commute

Population: 212,175
3-Year Growth Rate: 2.71%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 11.40%
Drove alone (%): 81.20%
Carpooled (%): 10.50%
Worked at home (%): 3.60%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 2.00%
Commute Score: 40.21

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46 Seattle, WA

Seattle, happiest cities, drunkest cities, fittest cities, best singles scenes, flip a house, longest commutes, commute

Population: 704,352
3-Year Growth Rate: 7.85%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 6.00%
Drove alone (%): 50.10%
Carpooled (%): 8.20%
Worked at home (%): 6.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 13.40%
Commute Score: 40.35

45 Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 854,113
3-Year Growth Rate: 7.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 26.30
60 minutes or more commute (%): 7.70%
Drove alone (%): 81.90%
Carpooled (%): 11.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.20%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.50%
Commute Score: 41.30

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44 Gilbert, AZ

Gilbert, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 237,133
3-Year Growth Rate: 7.05%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.40
60 minutes or more commute (%): 7.00%
Drove alone (%): 7880.00%
Carpooled (%): 1020.00%
Worked at home (%): 720.00%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.50%
Commute Score: 41.45

43 Aurora, IL

Aurora, happiest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 201,110
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.52%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.00
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.10%
Drove alone (%): 77.70%
Carpooled (%): 1170.00%
Worked at home (%): 4.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.50%
Commute Score: 41.62

42 Long Beach, CA

Long Beach, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, longest commutes

Population: 470,130
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.21%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.20%
Drove alone (%): 74.10%
Carpooled (%): 9.20%
Worked at home (%): 4.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 3.30%
Commute Score: 41.91

41 Baltimore, MD

Baltimore, drunkest cities, fattest cities, longest commutes, commute

Population: 614,664
3-Year Growth Rate: -1.32%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.80%
Drove alone (%): 60.20%
Carpooled (%): 9.20%
Worked at home (%): 3.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 7.50%
Commute Score: 41.98

40 Miami, FL

miami fittest cities, flip a house, longest commutes — Shutterstock

Population: 453,579
3-Year Growth Rate: 7.69%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.00
60 minutes or more commute (%): 7.40%
Drove alone (%): 69.40%
Carpooled (%): 9.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.40%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 5.50%
Commute Score: 42.09

39 Hollywood, FL

Hollywood, Florida, drunkest cities, best singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 151,998
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.69%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 28.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 10.10%
Drove alone (%): 77.20%
Carpooled (%): 10.50%
Worked at home (%): 4.40%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 3.00%
Commute Score: 42.29

38 Fullerton, CA

Fullerton, CA, train station, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 140,721
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.29%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 28.90
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.40%
Drove alone (%): 77.60%
Carpooled (%): 11.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 4.10%
Commute Score: 42.59

37 Aurora, CO

Population: 361,710
3-Year Growth Rate: 4.79%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 8.70%
Drove alone (%): 76.60%
Carpooled (%): 11.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.80%
Commute Score: 42.59

36 Stockton, CA

Stockton, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes — Shutterstock

Population: 307,072
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.20%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.20
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.20%
Drove alone (%): 76.70%
Carpooled (%): 15.90%
Worked at home (%): 2.90%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.90%
Commute Score: 42.60

35 Washington D.C.

Washington DC, D.C., drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, best singles scenes, flip a house, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 681,170
3-Year Growth Rate: 4.93%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 8.70%
Drove alone (%): 33.70%
Carpooled (%): 5.70%
Worked at home (%): 5.00%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 16.90%
Commute Score: 43.33

34 Cape Coral, FL

Cape Coral, happiest cities, longest-living cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, flip a house, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 179,804
3-Year Growth Rate: 8.90%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 27.90
60 minutes or more commute (%): 6.70%
Drove alone (%): 83.60%
Carpooled (%): 9.00%
Worked at home (%): 4.80%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.90%
Commute Score: 43.50

33 Pembroke Pines, FL

Pembroke Pines, happiest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 168,587
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.41%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.60
60 minutes or more commute (%): 9.50%
Drove alone (%): 84.60%
Carpooled (%): 8.10%
Worked at home (%): 4.40%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.60%
Commute Score: 43.51

32 Alexandria, VA

Alexandria, pier, longest-living cities, longest commutes, commute

Population: 155,810
3-Year Growth Rate: 4.00%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.80
60 minutes or more commute (%): 9.40%
Drove alone (%): 58.70%
Carpooled (%): 8.50%
Worked at home (%): 5.00%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 4.80%
Commute Score: 44.20

31 Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, happiest cities, best singles scenes, flip a house, longest commutes, commute

Population: 3,976,322
3-Year Growth Rate: 2.21%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.10%
Drove alone (%): 67.90%
Carpooled (%): 9.30%
Worked at home (%): 5.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 4.80%
Commute Score: 44.41

30 Thornton, CO

Thornton, CO, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute

Population: 136,703
3-Year Growth Rate: 7.04%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 7.70%
Drove alone (%): 81.30%
Carpooled (%): 10.50%
Worked at home (%): 4.30%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.90%
Commute Score: 44.44

29 Joliet, IL

Joliet, drunkest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 148,262
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.19%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.30
60 minutes or more commute (%): 14.10%
Drove alone (%): 83.60%
Carpooled (%): 8.50%
Worked at home (%): 2.60%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.20%
Commute Score: 44.59

28 Elk Grove, CA

Elk Grove, CA, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute

Population: 169,743
3-Year Growth Rate: 5.71%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 8.10%
Drove alone (%): 76.10%
Carpooled (%): 14.00%
Worked at home (%): 5.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.10%
Commute Score: 44.91

27 Irvine, CA

Irvine, happiest cities, longest-living cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 266,122
3-Year Growth Rate: 12.59%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 24.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 8.10%
Drove alone (%): 78.70%
Carpooled (%): 6.80%
Worked at home (%): 7.30%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 5.00%
Commute Score: 45.19

26 Boston, MA

Boston, fittest cities, drunkest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, best singles scenes, house flip, longest commutes, commute

Population: 673,184
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.39%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 11.70%
Drove alone (%): 38.60%
Carpooled (%): 6.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.60%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 16.90%
Commute Score: 45.19

25 Pomona, CA

Pomona, CA, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 152,494
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.84%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 14.90%
Drove alone (%): 73.90%
Carpooled (%): 14.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.80%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 3.60%
Commute Score: 45.84

24 Riverside, CA

Riverside, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, best for house flip, longest commutes, commute

Population: 324,722
3-Year Growth Rate: 2.73%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.40
60 minutes or more commute (%): 13.80%
Drove alone (%): 74.70%
Carpooled (%): 13.80%
Worked at home (%): 4.50%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 3.60%
Commute Score: 45.93

23 Oakland, CA

Oakland, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, flip a house, longest commutes, commute

Population: 420,005
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.14%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.30
60 minutes or more commute (%): 12.70%
Drove alone (%): 53.00%
Carpooled (%): 11.10%
Worked at home (%): 6.20%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 7.40%
Commute Score: 46.14

22 Miramar, FL

Miramar, palm trees, sunrise, longest-living cities, longest commutes, commute

Population: 138,449
3-Year Growth Rate: 6.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 10.00%
Drove alone (%): 84.90%
Carpooled (%): 8.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.20%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.60%
Commute Score: 47.00

21 Philadelphia, PA

fattest cities, drunkest cities, best singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 1,567,872
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.77%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 32.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 13.80%
Drove alone (%): 50.40%
Carpooled (%): 8.60%
Worked at home (%): 3.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 10.60%
Commute Score: 47.07

20 Ontario, CA

Ontario, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 173,212
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.42%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.20
60 minutes or more commute (%): 14.30%
Drove alone (%): 77.20%
Carpooled (%): 14.70%
Worked at home (%): 2.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 2.30%
Commute Score: 47.92

19 Port St. Lucie, FL

Population: 185,132
3-Year Growth Rate: 8.47%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 10.30%
Drove alone (%): 80.10%
Carpooled (%): 11.40%
Worked at home (%): 6.00%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.90%
Commute Score: 48.27

18 San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, drunkest cities, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, best singles scenes, flip a house, longest commutes, commute

Population: 870,887
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.77%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 13.20%
Drove alone (%): 35.90%
Carpooled (%): 7.30%
Worked at home (%): 6.90%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 14.40%
Commute Score: 48.67

17 Fremont, CA

Fremont, happiest cities, fittest cities, longest-living cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 233,136
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.60%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 32.00
60 minutes or more commute (%): 13.50%
Drove alone (%): 73.30%
Carpooled (%): 10.30%
Worked at home (%): 4.60%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.90%
Commute Score: 49.10

16 Hayward, CA

Hayward, CA, worst singles scenes, sunrise, longest commutes, commute

Population: 158,937
3-Year Growth Rate: 4.67%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 30.90
60 minutes or more commute (%): 13.80%
Drove alone (%): 72.10%
Carpooled (%): 11.90%
Worked at home (%): 2.90%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 2.50%
Commute Score: 49.37

15 Chicago, IL

Chicago, happiest cities, drunkest cities, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 2,704,958
3-Year Growth Rate: -0.51%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 34.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 16.00%
Drove alone (%): 49.70%
Carpooled (%): 8.50%
Worked at home (%): 4.40%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 8.20%
Commute Score: 49.59

14 Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Rancho Cucamonga, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Kit Leong / Shutterstock

Population: 176,534
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.11%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 15.50%
Drove alone (%): 78.90%
Carpooled (%): 13.20%
Worked at home (%): 4.20%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.10%
Commute Score: 50.11

13 Lancaster, CA

Lancaster, CA, poppies, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 160,106
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.44%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 31.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 20.00%
Drove alone (%): 84.40%
Carpooled (%): 9.20%
Worked at home (%): 2.90%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.50%
Commute Score: 51.54

12 Santa Clarita, CA

Santa Clarita, happiest cities, fittest cities, healthiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 181,972
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.49%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 32.60
60 minutes or more commute (%): 17.60%
Drove alone (%): 76.50%
Carpooled (%): 12.00%
Worked at home (%): 5.70%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.90%
Commute Score: 51.69

11 Moreno Valley, CA

Moreno Valley, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 205,499
3-Year Growth Rate: 2.45%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 33.50
60 minutes or more commute (%): 16.90%
Drove alone (%): 77.90%
Carpooled (%): 14.20%
Worked at home (%): 3.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.10%
Commute Score: 52.85

10 Yonkers, NY

Yonkers, happiest cities, longest commutes, commute

Population: 200,807
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.77%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 33.20
60 minutes or more commute (%): 19.10%
Drove alone (%): 55.80%
Carpooled (%): 9.30%
Worked at home (%): 2.40%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 5.20%
Commute Score: 53.07

9 Fontana, CA

Fontana, happiest cities, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 209,665
3-Year Growth Rate: 3.18%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 32.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 17.60%
Drove alone (%): 78.80%
Carpooled (%): 13.90%
Worked at home (%): 3.60%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.90%
Commute Score: 53.48

8 Naperville, IL

Naperville, longest-living cities, statue, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 147,122
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.62%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 33.60
60 minutes or more commute (%): 18.90%
Drove alone (%): 75.20%
Carpooled (%): 4.40%
Worked at home (%): 8.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.80%
Commute Score: 54.12

7 McKinney, TX

McKinney, suburban homes, longest-living cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 172,298
3-Year Growth Rate: 15.62%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.10
60 minutes or more commute (%): 10.00%
Drove alone (%): 81.90%
Carpooled (%): 6.80%
Worked at home (%): 8.10%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.80%
Commute Score: 54.72

6 Newark, NJ

Newark, drunkest cities, longest commutes — Shutterstock

Population: 281,764
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.94%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 34.40
60 minutes or more commute (%): 19.60%
Drove alone (%): 47.90%
Carpooled (%): 13.20%
Worked at home (%): 1.60%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 9.20%
Commute Score: 54.94

5 Jersey City, NJ

Jersey City, happiest cities, longest commutes — Shutterstock

Population: 264,152
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.61%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 36.20
60 minutes or more commute (%): 18.00%
Drove alone (%): 32.40%
Carpooled (%): 7.10%
Worked at home (%): 3.40%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 8.40%
Commute Score: 55.81

4 Frisco, TX

Frisco, circus, longest-living cities, worst singles scenes, best cities to buy a mansion, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 163,656
3-Year Growth Rate: 19.57%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 29.40
60 minutes or more commute (%): 8.60%
Drove alone (%): 80.50%
Carpooled (%): 7.20%
Worked at home (%): 10.20%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 0.80%
Commute Score: 57.57

3 Corona, CA

Corona, CA, beach, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute

Population: 166,785
3-Year Growth Rate: 4.81%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 35.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 21.70%
Drove alone (%): 76.70%
Carpooled (%): 13.40%
Worked at home (%): 6.00%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.30%
Commute Score: 62.21

2 New York, NY

New York, NYC, happiest cities, best singles scenes, longest commutes — Shutterstock

Population: 8,537,673
3-Year Growth Rate: 1.37%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 39.90
60 minutes or more commute (%): 25.00%
Drove alone (%): 22.00%
Carpooled (%): 4.60%
Worked at home (%): 4.00%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 11.20%
Commute Score: 66.27

1 Palmdale, CA

Palmdale, CA, desert, worst singles scenes, longest commutes, commute — Shutterstock

Population: 157,356
3-Year Growth Rate: 0.30%
Mean travel time to work (minutes): 40.70
60 minutes or more commute (%): 31.80%
Drove alone (%): 74.50%
Carpooled (%): 17.10%
Worked at home (%): 4.30%
Bicycle and Walk (%): 1.10%
Commute Score: 72.80

If commuting is really getting you down and you've decided it's time for a positive change, check out our list of The 100 Happiest Cities in America.

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Alex Daniel A journalist based in Brooklyn, New York.Read moreFiled UnderCitiesRead This Next

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