The average one-way commute in the US has risen to 27.2 minutes in 2024, up from 26.8 minutes in 2023, according to US Census Bureau data. This brings the average daily round trip to over 54 minutes, or 4.5 hours per week for in-person workers.
Experts attribute the increase to return-to-office mandates and housing affordability. Dr Fariba Siddiq of Florida State University said mandates are pushing more people back onto the roads, while high housing costs force workers to live farther from job centres.
A study in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics found that homeowners have 6.9% longer commutes than renters, as rising prices push buyers to cheaper, more distant areas. The national median home price rose 48% between 2019 and 2024, while median income grew only 22%.
Lower-income and minority households are disproportionately affected, with longer commutes due to limited resources for down payments. Some firms are responding: Colliers, a Texas real estate firm, is moving its office north of Dallas to reduce employee travel times.
