The distance you drive or take public transit to work can vary dramatically based on where you live.
Analyzing location data from commuters in 933 metros with a population of at least 100,000, researchers from StreetLight Data found the places where residents travel the longest distances to work. In total, they looked at the median, round-trip journeys of approximately 20 million commuters in September 2017.
The primary goal was to study the links between three socioeconomic factors – income, education level, and rent prices – and commute length, according to Laura Schewel, CEO of StreetLight Data.
When looking at nationwide averages, there isn’t a strong relationship between high-income, high-cost, college-educated neighborhoods and short commutes. But if you zoom into certain cities, there are correlations.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, for example, non-college-degree, low-income residents tend to have longer commutes than their college-educated, higher-income neighbors. According to the study, out of the three socioeconomic factors, having a college degree is most highly correlated with having a short commute.
While the study measured commute length for all types of transit (from biking to walking to driving), it doesn't look at how access to public transport correlates with commute length. However, Schewel does note that places with exceptionally long commutes tend to be in rural areas without access to major public transit systems.
There are a few caveats to the data. The places with the longest commutes are relatively small, and job opportunities might be limited - so residents drive to larger cities nearby. The study also doesn't consider people who lack smartphones or connected vehicles, people who work from home, or those who work in different places every day.
Take a look at the cities with the longest commutes.
15. East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Population: 172,936
Median rent: $1,325
Median commute distance: 14 miles
14. Gallup, New Mexico
Population: 57,295
Median rent: $613
Median commute distance: 14 miles
13. Aberdeen, Washington
Population: 57,780
Median rent: $720
Median commute distance: 14.1 miles
12. Morehead City, North Carolina
Population: 69,250
Median rent: $689
Median commute distance: 14.1 miles
11. Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Population: 51,785
Median rent: $589
Median commute distance: 14.1 miles
10. Pecos, Texas
Population: 10,362
Median rent: $614
Median commute distance: 14.4 miles
9. Hudson, New York
Population: 56,120
Median rent: $817
Median commute distance: 14.9 miles
8. Walterboro, South Carolina
Population: 40,560
Median rent: $684
Median commute distance: 15 miles
7. Espanola, New Mexico
Population: 37,571
Median rent: $677
Median commute distance: 15.7 miles
6. Brainerd, Minnesota
Population: 92,839
Median rent: $616
Median commute distance: 17.4 miles
5. Show Low, Arizona
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Population: 82,527
Median rent: $760
Median commute distance: 18.2 miles
4. Berlin, New Hampshire
Population: 33,160
Median rent: $667
Median commute distance: 19.8 miles
3. Ocean City, New Jersey
Population: 96,685
Median rent: $1,076
Median commute distance: 26.6 miles
2. Ocean Pines, Maryland
Population: 50,375
Median rent: $1,411
Median commute distance: 29.2 miles
1. Bishop, California
Population: 4,787
Median rent: $824
Median commute distance: 70.2 miles