Gridlocked And Loaded
Long lines at red lights, crammed subways, and endless bumper-to-bumper traffic—it’s no wonder commuting can ruin your day.
We analyzed the average commute time, traffic congestion level, public transit quality, and the percentage of residents with 45+ minute commutes to determine which cities are the hardest on commuters. Using a weighted scoring system, we’ve ranked the 51 worst U.S. cities for commuting (is your city on the list).
51: Salt Lake City, Utah
Commute score: 18.8
Average commute time: 23.8 minutes
Congestion level: 17%
Public transit score: 55
45+ min commutes: 13.5%
SLC offers light rail, but many still face longer-than-expected commutes and unreliable coverage.
50: Buffalo, New York
Commute score: 19.6
Average commute time: 22.5 minutes
Congestion level: 16%
Public transit score: 42
45+ min commutes: 12.6%
Buffalo doesn’t have major congestion, but weak transit systems keep it on this list.
Andre Carrotflower, Wikimedia Commons
49: Spokane, Washington
Commute score: 22.1
Average commute time: 22.1 minutes
Congestion level: 15%
Public transit score: 33
45+ min commutes: 13.2%
Spokane’s low congestion helps, but public transit access is still lacking for many neighborhoods.
SounderBruce, Wikimedia Commons
48: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Commute score: 23.0
Average commute time: 21.4 minutes
Congestion level: 14%
Public transit score: 24
45+ min commutes: 12.9%
Short commutes don’t tell the full story—poor public transit means few alternatives to driving.
47: Boise, Idaho
Commute score: 23.7
Average commute time: 21.6 minutes
Congestion level: 15%
Public transit score: 29
45+ min commutes: 13.8%
Boise’s sprawl and low transit investment lead to heavy reliance on personal vehicles.
46: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Commute score: 25.3
Average commute time: 22.5 minutes
Congestion level: 18%
Public transit score: 39
45+ min commutes: 14.2%
Milwaukee offers transit, but budget cuts and infrequent service hurt its reliability.
Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons
45: Richmond, Virginia
Commute score: 27.9
Average commute time: 24.9 minutes
Congestion level: 18%
Public transit score: 41
45+ min commutes: 14.0%
Though average times seem mild, the lack of rail or major transit options hurts daily reliability.
44: Bakersfield, California
Commute score: 28.4
Average commute time: 22.8 minutes
Congestion level: 16%
Public transit score: 27
45+ min commutes: 14.4%
Public transit in Bakersfield is sparse, making long drives nearly unavoidable.
Bobak Ha'Eri, Wikimedia Commons
43: Kansas City, Missouri
Commute score: 29.1
Average commute time: 23.1 minutes
Congestion level: 18%
Public transit score: 28
45+ min commutes: 13.1%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
42: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commute score: 29.2
Average commute time: 25.7 minutes
Congestion level: 21%
Public transit score: 58
45+ min commutes: 16.4%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
41: Cleveland, Ohio
Commute score: 29.3
Average commute time: 24.5 minutes
Congestion level: 18%
Public transit score: 45
45+ min commutes: 16.7%
Cleveland has infrastructure, but underfunded systems and aging transit options slow commuters down.
40: Raleigh, North Carolina
Commute score: 30.4
Average commute time: 24.7 minutes
Congestion level: 19%
Public transit score: 40
45+ min commutes: 14.9%
Raleigh’s fast growth is overwhelming its modest public transit system.
Mark Turner, Wikimedia Commons
39: St. Louis, Missouri
Commute score: 30.7
Average commute time: 24.3 minutes
Congestion level: 19%
Public transit score: 37
45+ min commutes: 14.7%
St. Louis has light rail, but many areas remain underserved—especially outside the downtown core.
Carlos Santa Maria, Adobe Stock
38: Cincinnati, Ohio
Commute score: 30.9
Average commute time: 24.2 minutes
Congestion level: 20%
Public transit score: 34
45+ min commutes: 13.2%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
37: Louisville, Kentucky
Commute score: 31.1
Average commute time: 24.2 minutes
Congestion level: 18%
Public transit score: 31
45+ min commutes: 14.2%
With few public transit options and growing urban sprawl, driving is the default—often to a fault.
Grindstone Media Grp, Adobe Stock
36: Fresno, California
Commute score: 31.1
Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
Congestion level: 17%
Public transit score: 28
45+ min commutes: 14.9%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
35: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Commute score: 31.2
Average commute time: 21.9 minutes
Congestion level: 17%
Public transit score: 29
45+ min commutes: 17.2%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
Asaavedra32, Wikimedia Commons
34: Indianapolis, Indiana
Commute score: 32.4
Average commute time: 23.5 minutes
Congestion level: 19%
Public transit score: 27
45+ min commutes: 13.9%
Indianapolis is expanding, but its car-centric design and weak bus system can’t keep up.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
33: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commute score: 32.7
Average commute time: 26.1 minutes
Congestion level: 20%
Public transit score: 48
45+ min commutes: 16.5%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
32: El Paso, Texas
Commute score: 32.9
Average commute time: 22.1 minutes
Congestion level: 18%
Public transit score: 26
45+ min commutes: 16.5%
El Paso’s compact commutes are offset by poor public transit and a reliance on car travel for most residents.
31: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Commute score: 33.0
Average commute time: 21.9 minutes
Congestion level: 17%
Public transit score: 19
45+ min commutes: 15.6%
Oklahoma City is built for cars, and public transit remains too limited to help the average worker.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
30: Columbus, Ohio
Commute score: 34.0
Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
Congestion level: 20%
Public transit score: 31
45+ min commutes: 15.3%
Columbus relies mostly on buses, but limited routes and infrequent service add frustration to daily travel.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
29: Sacramento, California
Commute score: 37.1
Average commute time: 27.4 minutes
Congestion level: 21%
Public transit score: 33
45+ min commutes: 12.9%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
28: San Antonio, Texas
Commute score: 39.0
Average commute time: 25.7 minutes
Congestion level: 21%
Public transit score: 30
45+ min commutes: 15.4%
San Antonio’s lack of rail and growing suburban sprawl means long waits and longer drives.
27: Phoenix, Arizona
Commute score: 39.4
Average commute time: 26.5 minutes
Congestion level: 22%
Public transit score: 32
45+ min commutes: 14.5%
Phoenix struggles with sprawl and a limited light rail network, making commutes frustrating for many.
26: Charlotte, North Carolina
Commute score: 39.9
Average commute time: 26.2 minutes
Congestion level: 20%
Public transit score: 35
45+ min commutes: 17.9%
Charlotte’s traffic issues keep growing, while its small light rail system reaches too few areas.
Precisionviews, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
25: Las Vegas, Nevada
Commute score: 41.2
Average commute time: 27.1 minutes
Congestion level: 21%
Public transit score: 36
45+ min commutes: 17.2%
Las Vegas is not just for tourists—residents face long commutes and limited options beyond buses.
Reinhard Link from Germany, Wikimedia Commons
24: Boston, Massachusetts
Commute score: 41.8
Average commute time: 30.2 minutes
Congestion level: 27%
Public transit score: 72
45+ min commutes: 19.4%
Boston’s MBTA system is widespread—but chronic delays and breakdowns hurt overall efficiency.
23: Denver, Colorado
Commute score: 42.2
Average commute time: 27.5 minutes
Congestion level: 24%
Public transit score: 47
45+ min commutes: 18.1%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
22: Detroit, Michigan
Commute score: 43.5
Average commute time: 27.6 minutes
Congestion level: 22%
Public transit score: 44
45+ min commutes: 19.8%
Detroit’s low congestion hides a bigger issue—public transit struggles and long commutes persist.
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons
21: Baltimore, Maryland
Commute score: 43.7
Average commute time: 30.2 minutes
Congestion level: 25%
Public transit score: 57
45+ min commutes: 18.2%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
20: Jacksonville, Florida
Commute score: 43.8
Average commute time: 26.4 minutes
Congestion level: 21%
Public transit score: 23
45+ min commutes: 16.1%
Jacksonville is huge geographically, and with few rail options, commutes are often long and draining.
Felix Mizioznikov, Adobe Stock
19: Mesa, Arizona
Commute score: 44.2
Average commute time: 25.6 minutes
Congestion level: 21%
Public transit score: 23
45+ min commutes: 17.3%
Mesa’s distance from Phoenix and limited connectivity force long daily drives across the desert.
18: Tampa, Florida
Commute score: 45.6
Average commute time: 27.4 minutes
Congestion level: 23%
Public transit score: 33
45+ min commutes: 17.5%
Tampa's transit system is playing catch-up to a booming population and worsening congestion.
Clement Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
17: Fort Worth, Texas
Commute score: 46.3
Average commute time: 26.3 minutes
Congestion level: 23%
Public transit score: 28
45+ min commutes: 17.8%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
16: Austin, Texas
Commute score: 47.2
Average commute time: 28.3 minutes
Congestion level: 25%
Public transit score: 42
45+ min commutes: 18.5%
Austin’s booming growth has led to clogged roads and public transit that hasn’t caught up.
15: San Diego, California
Commute score: 47.2
Average commute time: 28.5 minutes
Congestion level: 24%
Public transit score: 39
45+ min commutes: 18.3%
San Diego boasts ocean views, but also long travel times and inconsistent transit service.
Crown Point Design, Adobe Stock
14: Portland, Oregon
Commute score: 48.4
Average commute time: 29.5 minutes
Congestion level: 26%
Public transit score: 52
45+ min commutes: 20.1%
Portland has solid transit options, but congestion and rising commute times are worsening.
Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
13: Nashville, Tennessee
Commute score: 48.7
Average commute time: 27.3 minutes
Congestion level: 25%
Public transit score: 25
45+ min commutes: 15.8%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
12: Arlington, Texas
Commute score: 50.2
Average commute time: 26.5 minutes
Congestion level: 22%
Public transit score: 18
45+ min commutes: 18.4%
This city faces a mix of long commutes, rising congestion, and underwhelming public transit options.
11: Seattle, Washington
Commute score: 50.7
Average commute time: 30.9 minutes
Congestion level: 28%
Public transit score: 60
45+ min commutes: 20.8%
Seattle has expanded its light rail, but bridge bottlenecks and traffic slow everyone down.
Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
10: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commute score: 50.8
Average commute time: 31.5 minutes
Congestion level: 29%
Public transit score: 68
45+ min commutes: 21.7%
Philadelphia has extensive public transit, but it's known for delays and aging infrastructure.
9: Houston, Texas
Commute score: 52.5
Average commute time: 29.8 minutes
Congestion level: 26%
Public transit score: 38
45+ min commutes: 18.7%
Houston has one of the worst combinations: long drive times, sprawling layout, and unreliable transit.
Carol M. Highsmith,Wikimedia Commons
8: Miami, Florida
Commute score: 58.3
Average commute time: 31.7 minutes
Congestion level: 30%
Public transit score: 55
45+ min commutes: 22.3%
Miami combines heat, traffic, and slow rail service into one messy commute.
7: Chicago, Illinois
Commute score: 59.3
Average commute time: 33.2 minutes
Congestion level: 31%
Public transit score: 65
45+ min commutes: 23.4%
Chicago’s commute options are plentiful, but inconsistent service and gridlock are big problems.
Paul R. Burley, Wikimedia Commons
6: San Francisco, California
Commute score: 59.7
Average commute time: 34.6 minutes
Congestion level: 32%
Public transit score: 80
45+ min commutes: 25.6%
San Francisco has transit access, but high congestion and crowding make every trip a chore.
Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
5: Los Angeles, California
Commute score: 63.5
Average commute time: 31.4 minutes
Congestion level: 34%
Public transit score: 49
45+ min commutes: 21.2%
Los Angeles still lives up to its traffic reputation—especially for those outside the Metro’s reach.
Christophe.Finot, Wikimedia Commons
4: Washington, D.C.
Commute score: 64.4
Average commute time: 34.3 minutes
Congestion level: 34%
Public transit score: 75
45+ min commutes: 26.2%
Washington, D.C.’s Metro system faces frequent delays and its roads are famously clogged.
3: Atlanta, Georgia
Commute score: 67.5
Average commute time: 32.5 minutes
Congestion level: 33%
Public transit score: 50
45+ min commutes: 24.1%
Atlanta’s highways are legendary for gridlock, and MARTA serves only a slice of commuters.
2: New York, New York
Commute score: 75.0
Average commute time: 40.8 minutes
Congestion level: 35%
Public transit score: 81
45+ min commutes: 27.5%
New Yorkers endure the longest commutes in the nation—even with the subway, there’s no escape.
1: Riverside, California
Commute score: 76.2
Average commute time: 31.6 minutes
Congestion level: 29%
Public transit score: 22
45+ min commutes: 26.9%
Riverside residents face punishing commutes into nearby job centers like LA—with almost no rail help.
Downtowngal, Wikimedia Commons
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