Looking for a Smoother Commute? Try These Cities

After the pandemic, there was a brief period where it seemed like commutes might become a thing of the past, thanks to the rapid rise of remote work. But that did not come to pass. Office traffic is now surging toward pre-pandemic levels — which means regular traffic is too. With more Americans living further from city centers, the average commute has actually gotten longer.

Although it appears commutes may be here to stay, the burden of traveling varies widely across cities.

Survey Says

Lyft (LYFT) published a survey of the best cities for commuters, taking factors like commute length, price, and sustainability into consideration.

Columbus, Ohio topped the list with 22 minutes of average commute time in the city per day, below the national average of 25 minutes. While that might not sound like a huge difference, it adds up to 13 more hours of free time for workers, per year. Columbus also boasts the second-lowest cost to commute, when considering prices of parking, fuel, and public transportation, according to Lyft.

The city with the lowest average commuting cost — Memphis, Tennessee — also made the top five, which was rounded out by El Paso, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

It makes sense that relatively smaller metros would have easier commutes. But the results suggest big city commutes might have their own advantages too. New York City, for example, registered the cleanest commute, largely due to workers’ reliance on public transportation. It also boasts the “most vibrant downtown”, which can make trips into the city feel more worthwhile.

Meanwhile, major cities like San Francisco and Boston clocked in as the most popular cities for biking and walking commuters, respectively.

The Cost of Commuting

Commutes aren’t just a headache. They can be a financial challenge, costing commuters more than $5,700 per year on average, according to estimates by the Chamber of Commerce. Then there’s the loss of free time, which carries added weight considering the average U.S. employee spends a quarter of each day working, according to Lyft. Traffic congestion also carries an environmental cost, which may make cities with cleaner commutes more appealing to some Americans.

As prospective homebuyers seek the best balance of cost and opportunity, the ease of commuting — or lack thereof — may be another factor worth considering.

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