This story originally appeared on CoPilot.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, commuting was a daily habit for most American workers. Americans spent an average of 4.5 hours per week on their commute in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Although the amount of time that the average person spent commuting had been steadily increasing, the predominant shift to remote work in 2020 is reversing this trend — possibly for the long-term.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the amount of time that an average person spends commuting has been rising. In 2018, the average travel time to work was 27.1 minutes, compared with 25.3 minutes in 2010. While the difference might not seem like much, it amounts to 18 extra minutes each week or 16 hours per year.
Commuting also comes with economic costs. The 2019 Urban Mobility Report released by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that the average American commuter spends nearly seven full working days per year in traffic delays, incurring over $1,000 in personal costs. For those who drive alone, long commutes and especially traffic delays can be detrimental to productivity.
Prior to COVID-19, the average total time spent commuting and working was 43.4 hours per week. When calculating the average number of hours spent commuting (4.5 hours) compared with the average number of hours spent on work and commuting (43.4 hours), newly-remote workers nationwide have gained an average 10.4% of their workweek back.
However, some locations are more likely to have gained significant time back from their commutes than others. Remote workers in coastal states gained the most time back, while those in central states are likely saving less time.
To find out which cities are gaining the most time back from not having to commute, researchers at CoPilot, a car shopping app, analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey and calculated what percentage of the average workweek was spent commuting to and from work prior to the pandemic. Cities were then ranked by this percentage.
The researchers also included the share of workers who, prior to COVID-19, commuted alone by car — the mode of transportation that is least conducive to multitasking.
Following are the large cities gaining the most time back from their commutes.
25. New Orleans
- Time gained back from not commuting: 9.9%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.2 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 42.6 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 68.0%
24. Dallas
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.0%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.5 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 45.2 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 76.7%
23. Arlington, Texas
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.1%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.5 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.5 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 82.2%
22. Portland, Oregon
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.1%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.3 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 42.4 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 58.5%
21. Las Vegas
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.3%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.4 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.1 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 77.1%
20. Fort Worth, Texas
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.3%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.6 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.8 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 82.2%
19. Houston
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.3%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.6 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.8 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 78.1%
18. Sacramento, California
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.4%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.4 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 42.3 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 73.7%
17. Detroit
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.4%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.3 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 41.6 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 69.0%
16. Atlanta
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.5%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.7 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.8 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 65.6%
15. Seattle
- Time gained back from not commuting: 10.8%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.7 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.9 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 44.4%
14. Anaheim, California
- Time gained back from not commuting: 11.1%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 4.8 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.3 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 78.3%
13. Miami
- Time gained back from not commuting: 11.3%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.1 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.8 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 67.2%
12. Washington, D.C.
- Time gained back from not commuting: 11.3%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.2 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 45.5 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 34.2%
11. Aurora, Colorado
- Time gained back from not commuting: 11.4%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.1 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.5 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 76.0%
10. San Jose, California
- Time gained back from not commuting: 11.8%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.2 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.8 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 76.3%
9. Baltimore
- Time gained back from not commuting: 11.9%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.3 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.2 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 62.2%
8. Boston
- Time gained back from not commuting: 12.0%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.2 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.5 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 38.5%
7. San Francisco
- Time gained back from not commuting: 12.0%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.5 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 46.0 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 30.3%
6. Long Beach, California
- Time gained back from not commuting: 12.0%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.2 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.2 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 76.1%
5. Los Angeles
- Time gained back from not commuting: 12.4%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.4 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 43.6 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 69.6%
4. Oakland, California
- Time gained back from not commuting: 12.6%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.6 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.2 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 51.5%
3. Philadelphia
- Time gained back from not commuting: 13.0%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.7 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.0 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 49.5%
2. Chicago
- Time gained back from not commuting: 13.1%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 5.9 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 44.9 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 48.9%
1. New York City
- Time gained back from not commuting: 15.2%
- Total commuting time (prior to COVID-19): 7.0 hours per week
- Total commuting + working time (prior to COVID-19): 46.0 hours per week
- Share of workers who commuted alone by car (prior to COVID-19): 22.5%
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