Counties with the Worst Commutes in New York

Written by Stacker

Commuting easily ranks as one of the least enjoyable parts of a person's day. Commuters encounter more physical health problems, and low-income commuters are less likely to gain financial stability—among a host of other negative impacts. And yet, America's commutes keep getting longer as people move farther away from the office, according to census data.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the worst commutes in New York using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by longest average commute time according to 2020 5-year estimates.

#50. Erie County

- Average Commute Time: 21.3 minutes
--- 12.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 3.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 8.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 5.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.0%), carpooled (7.3%), walked to work (2.6%), public transportation (3.3%), worked from home (5.5%)

#49. Cortland County

- Average Commute Time: 21.3 minutes
--- 12.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.6%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (5.0%), public transportation (0.9%), worked from home (5.1%)

#48. Seneca County

- Average Commute Time: 21.7 minutes
--- 11.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.8%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (5.2%)

#47. Yates County

- Average Commute Time: 21.7 minutes
--- 11.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (70.5%), carpooled (7.2%), walked to work (5.5%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (12.5%)

#46. Steuben County

- Average Commute Time: 22 minutes
--- 11.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.9%), carpooled (9.9%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (5.6%)

#45. Cattaraugus County

- Average Commute Time: 22.1 minutes
--- 11.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 26.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.6%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (4.8%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (4.8%)

#44. Allegany County

- Average Commute Time: 22.2 minutes
--- 11.3 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 28.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.7%), carpooled (7.5%), walked to work (10.3%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.7%)

#43. Warren County

- Average Commute Time: 22.4 minutes
--- 11.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 30.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.2%), carpooled (7.4%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (5.0%)

#42. Niagara County

- Average Commute Time: 22.9 minutes
--- 10.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 3.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.3%), carpooled (7.4%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (4.6%)

#41. Schenectady County

- Average Commute Time: 23 minutes
--- 10.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 3.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 8.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.4%), carpooled (7.5%), walked to work (3.0%), public transportation (3.8%), worked from home (6.0%)

#40. Otsego County

- Average Commute Time: 23 minutes
--- 10.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.3%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (7.2%), public transportation (1.6%), worked from home (5.3%)

#39. Cayuga County

- Average Commute Time: 23.3 minutes
--- 10.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.3%), carpooled (6.1%), walked to work (3.9%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (4.3%)

#38. Genesee County

- Average Commute Time: 23.3 minutes
--- 10.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 38.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.3%), carpooled (8.5%), walked to work (4.4%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (2.8%)

#37. Ontario County

- Average Commute Time: 23.4 minutes
--- 10.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 37.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.7%), carpooled (8.3%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (6.8%)

#36. Hamilton County

- Average Commute Time: 23.5 minutes
--- 10.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 29.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.8%), carpooled (2.5%), walked to work (8.7%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (9.3%)

#35. Herkimer County

- Average Commute Time: 23.6 minutes
--- 9.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.6%), carpooled (7.9%), walked to work (4.5%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (5.5%)

#34. Essex County

- Average Commute Time: 23.6 minutes
--- 9.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 21.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (76.6%), carpooled (9.9%), walked to work (3.3%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (8.1%)

#33. Tioga County

- Average Commute Time: 23.8 minutes
--- 9.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (83.0%), carpooled (8.4%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (4.5%)

#32. Madison County

- Average Commute Time: 24 minutes
--- 9.5 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 50.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.7%), carpooled (7.9%), walked to work (4.9%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (6.1%)

#31. Rensselaer County

- Average Commute Time: 24.3 minutes
--- 9.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 52.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.2%), carpooled (7.5%), walked to work (3.1%), public transportation (2.9%), worked from home (6.0%)

#30. Chenango County

- Average Commute Time: 24.4 minutes
--- 9.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 32.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (80.0%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (4.4%), public transportation (0.1%), worked from home (4.6%)

#29. Lewis County

- Average Commute Time: 24.4 minutes
--- 9.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 21.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 35.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.7%), carpooled (11.0%), walked to work (4.8%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (5.0%)

#28. Wayne County

- Average Commute Time: 24.5 minutes
--- 9.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 48.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.0%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (2.1%), public transportation (0.4%), worked from home (5.0%)

#27. Montgomery County

- Average Commute Time: 24.5 minutes
--- 9.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.1%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 19.0%
- Worked outside county of residence: 44.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.8%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (3.7%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (5.5%)

#26. Fulton County

- Average Commute Time: 24.5 minutes
--- 9.0 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 18.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.9%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.3%), carpooled (9.3%), walked to work (2.4%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (3.4%)

#25. Oswego County

- Average Commute Time: 24.8 minutes
--- 8.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 39.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.4%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (4.5%)

#24. Livingston County

- Average Commute Time: 25.1 minutes
--- 8.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 6.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 44.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (79.9%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (5.8%), public transportation (0.6%), worked from home (4.9%)

#23. Saratoga County

- Average Commute Time: 25.3 minutes
--- 8.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 4.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 40.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.7%), carpooled (6.8%), walked to work (1.8%), public transportation (0.8%), worked from home (8.5%)

#22. Orleans County

- Average Commute Time: 25.6 minutes
--- 7.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 21.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.8%), carpooled (11.5%), walked to work (4.1%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.3%)

#21. Wyoming County

- Average Commute Time: 25.7 minutes
--- 7.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 9.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 45.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.1%), carpooled (6.0%), walked to work (6.4%), public transportation (0.5%), worked from home (4.3%)

#20. Columbia County

- Average Commute Time: 25.8 minutes
--- 7.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.7%), carpooled (6.9%), walked to work (3.8%), public transportation (2.7%), worked from home (9.4%)

#19. Delaware County

- Average Commute Time: 26.1 minutes
--- 7.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 16.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 25.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.1%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (6.4%), public transportation (1.3%), worked from home (7.3%)

#18. Washington County

- Average Commute Time: 26.3 minutes
--- 7.2 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 7.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 17.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 47.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (82.5%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (3.1%), public transportation (0.3%), worked from home (4.7%)

#17. Schuyler County

- Average Commute Time: 27.9 minutes
--- 5.6 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 5.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 54.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.1%), carpooled (13.1%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (0.2%), worked from home (6.0%)

#16. Ulster County

- Average Commute Time: 28.4 minutes
--- 5.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.2%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (3.3%), public transportation (2.4%), worked from home (9.6%)

#15. Greene County

- Average Commute Time: 28.7 minutes
--- 4.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 8.6%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.8%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.5%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.7%), carpooled (8.1%), walked to work (2.7%), public transportation (1.3%), worked from home (7.2%)

#14. Sullivan County

- Average Commute Time: 29.7 minutes
--- 3.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 12.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 14.3%
- Worked outside county of residence: 30.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (81.3%), carpooled (6.3%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (2.0%), worked from home (6.5%)

#13. Schoharie County

- Average Commute Time: 30.7 minutes
--- 2.8 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 14.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 20.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 43.0%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (77.7%), carpooled (9.8%), walked to work (4.7%), public transportation (0.7%), worked from home (6.4%)

#12. Rockland County

- Average Commute Time: 31.6 minutes
--- 1.9 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 17.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 8.2%
- Worked outside county of residence: 27.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (70.5%), carpooled (9.1%), walked to work (3.5%), public transportation (7.8%), worked from home (7.0%)

#11. Manhattan

- Average Commute Time: 32.1 minutes
--- 1.4 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 10.9%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 3.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 10.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (5.8%), carpooled (1.9%), walked to work (19.7%), public transportation (54.9%), worked from home (12.0%)

#10. Suffolk County

- Average Commute Time: 32.4 minutes
--- 1.1 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 15.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 11.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 22.7%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (78.1%), carpooled (7.7%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (6.0%), worked from home (5.5%)

#9. Dutchess County

- Average Commute Time: 32.8 minutes
--- 0.7 minutes shorter than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 16.7%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.1%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (75.3%), carpooled (7.1%), walked to work (3.4%), public transportation (4.8%), worked from home (7.9%)

#8. Orange County

- Average Commute Time: 34.4 minutes
--- 0.9 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 20.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 15.5%
- Worked outside county of residence: 26.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (73.8%), carpooled (8.9%), walked to work (3.6%), public transportation (5.1%), worked from home (6.7%)

#7. Westchester County

- Average Commute Time: 35.3 minutes
--- 1.8 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 22.0%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 7.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 31.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (55.6%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (4.3%), public transportation (21.8%), worked from home (8.9%)

#6. Nassau County

- Average Commute Time: 36.6 minutes
--- 3.1 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 23.8%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 9.9%
- Worked outside county of residence: 41.1%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (66.4%), carpooled (7.2%), walked to work (2.2%), public transportation (16.0%), worked from home (7.1%)

#5. Putnam County

- Average Commute Time: 40 minutes
--- 6.5 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 23.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.7%
- Worked outside county of residence: 59.6%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (74.7%), carpooled (8.0%), walked to work (1.2%), public transportation (7.8%), worked from home (7.6%)

#4. Staten Island

- Average Commute Time: 43 minutes
--- 9.5 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 28.4%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 7.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 46.8%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (18.3%), carpooled (4.1%), walked to work (8.6%), public transportation (57.8%), worked from home (7.9%)

#3. Queens

- Average Commute Time: 44.2 minutes
--- 10.7 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 31.2%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 10.4%
- Worked outside county of residence: 53.2%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (32.5%), carpooled (6.3%), walked to work (5.8%), public transportation (48.2%), worked from home (5.4%)

#2. Brooklyn

- Average Commute Time: 44.6 minutes
--- 11.1 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 35.3%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 12.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 42.3%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (55.8%), carpooled (7.8%), walked to work (2.8%), public transportation (28.0%), worked from home (4.4%)

#1. Bronx

- Average Commute Time: 45.3 minutes
--- 11.8 minutes longer than state average
- Workers with 60+ minute commute: 35.5%
- Left for work from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. 13.6%
- Worked outside county of residence: 53.4%
- Means of transportation: drove alone (24.2%), carpooled (4.4%), walked to work (7.3%), public transportation (57.4%), worked from home (4.4%)