The amount of time spent commuting also changed in every city in the past decade, mostly due to shifts in the economy, population and job market. In San Jose, for example, if you add up all the hours spent in traffic each day, you end up with 2 extra days per-year commuting in 2017 compared to 2008, as the hours spent in traffic daily grew from 51.6 minutes to 62.6 minutes.<\/strong><\/p>\n Nowadays, 95% of employed Americans spend an average of 54 minutes commuting to work each day. But, if you look at some of the larger, more bustling cities, the average number of minutes spent in traffic is significantly higher. In New York City, for example, expect to spend an average of 84 minutes commuting each day.<\/p>\n Intrigued by the evolution of commuting, we researched and compiled statistics for several rankings. First, we looked at the cities with a population above 500,000 where commuting time increased and decreased the most between 2008 and 2017. We also analyzed the cities where people spent the most and least time commuting in 2017. For a more detailed methodology, scroll to the end of the article.<\/p>\n Below are some of the highlights of the study and visuals.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise that commuting time increased the most in San Jos\u00e9<\/a> since 2008. As the city was swept by the tech industry, it started to expand rapidly \u2013 and so did its population. San Jos\u00e9\u2019s population increased 13% in 10 years, which also added to the increase of commuting time.<\/p>\n In 2008, workers spent an average of 51.6 minutes per day commuting to work; by 2017, this number had increased to 62.6 minutes. Even though the difference is just 11 minutes per day, if you add up all of those extra minutes spent on commuting in one year, you end up with two extra days spent in traffic \u2013 47.7 hours, to be exact.<\/p>\n As far as means of commute go, the number of drivers increased 19% in 10 years and walking decreased 8%. People who do their commuting by bike dropped 21% in San Jos\u00e9, while the use of public transportation increased 44%.<\/p>\n Of the 10 cities on the list where commuting time has increased the most, five are in California. This comes as no surprise, as people gravitated toward cities with better job opportunities and quality of life. San Francisco<\/a> came in second, with commuting time increasing by 39 hours per year in 10 years\u2019 time. Workers spent an average of 58.6 minutes per day commuting in 2008; in 2017, that number increased to 67.6 minutes. The city\u2019s workforce also increased in 10 years, going from 442,831 to 523,364 \u2013 an 18% surge \u2013 which influenced commuting time severely.<\/p>\n Other California cities with commuting time hikes include San Diego<\/a> (26.9 hours per year increase), Sacramento<\/a> (21.7 more hours per year) and Los Angeles<\/a> (up 18.2 hours per year).<\/p>\n Another West Coast city that ranked high is Seattle<\/a>, where the expansion of the workforce and population led to an increase in commuting time, as well. Locals spent about 49.4 minutes per day commuting in 2008; by 2017, the daily average had increased to 56.6 minutes. Additionally, in just 10 years, the number of workers in Seattle had risen by 26%, while the city\u2019s population grew 24%.<\/p>\n The only two East Coast cities that made the chart are New York City<\/a> and Boston<\/a>, where commuting time increased 20.8 hours per year and 19 hours per year, respectively.<\/p>\n Despite most cities on the list seeing growth in both population and workers, commuting time did decrease in a few cities with populations greater than 500,000 people. This is due to several factors. One of the most important aspects of the decreases is related to good infrastructure. Tennessee, Nevada, Texas and Indiana rank among the top states with the best infrastructure<\/a> in the U.S., so it comes as no surprise that commute time in Memphis and Las Vegas dropped by a few hours per year since 2008, while San Antonio and Indianapolis commutes increased just slightly.<\/p>\n In Memphis<\/a>, workers now commute 3.47 hours less per year than they used to, while Las Vegas<\/a> workers are saving 2.6 hours per year compared to 2008. In San Antonio<\/a>, commute time increased by four hours per year, and Indianapolis commute times were up 5.2 hours per year.<\/p>\n The percentage of workers using bikes as their main mode of transportation surged significantly in some of the above-mentioned cities. In Memphis<\/a>, biking increased 103% from 2008 to 2017; in San Antonio, biking is up a staggering 140%. Even though biking increased, driving to work is still the main way to commute in these cities.<\/p>\n Biking and walking to work also increased in Denver<\/a>. Compared to 2008, 32% more workers walk to their job in the city, and 78% more people bike. Despite increases in both population and workers, commuting time in Denver actually decreased by 1.73 hours per year.<\/p>\n In Chicago<\/a>, commuting time increased by only 2.6 hours per year, while in Detroit<\/a>, the average commuting time dropped by 8.67 hours per year.<\/p>\n The bigger the city, the longer it takes to get from point A to point B, and, if you\u2019re commuting from outside of the city, it\u2019s even worse. Population increases, traffic congestion and a high concentration of workers all add up to excruciating commuting times.<\/p>\n In New York City, if you add up all of the hours spent commuting, you end up with an average of 15 days per year just going to work and back home; that\u2019s one month every two years. Many people take public transportation in New York City, and the same goes for all of the others in the top 10 cities with the highest amount of commuting time.<\/p>\n Things aren\u2019t any better in Chicago<\/a>, IL, San Francisco, CA, or Philadelphia<\/a>, PA, either. In these cities, you spend between 12 and 13 days per year commuting. In Los Angeles and San Jos\u00e9, you spend a little more than 11 days going to and from work.<\/p>\n On the opposite side of the spectrum, Oklahoma City, OK, Memphis, TN, and Columbus, OH, are the cities where you spend the least amount of time commuting. In Oklahoma City, a commuter spends about 42.8 minutes per day commuting, or 7.7 days per year. Commuters spend approximately the same amount of time in traffic in Memphis, Columbus and Albuquerque<\/a>, NM.<\/p>\n The cities in this particular ranking are fairly uncluttered, which explains why you spend significantly less time on the road getting to and from work. These cities are also more spread out, which means people commute by car and rarely use public transportation.<\/p>\n A lot has changed in 10 years when it comes to commuting \u2013 for better and for worse in some cases. The average number of people commuting dropped by 1% percent, freelancer and remote jobs increased, and more people than ever use alternative transportation to get to work. People are also more considerate than in years past, taking the environment into account, and walking and biking to work, if distance permits it.<\/p>\n Commuting long distances can be draining, and one way to avoid spending long hours stuck in traffic \u2013 at least for those who are offered a flexible or hybrid work schedule \u2013 is to conduct their daily activities from a nearby coworking space. Explore top listings near you with CommercialCafe.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/Commuting-time-visuals_Most-2008-2017-1-699x1024.png\")
<\/p>\nSan Jos\u00e9 Commuters Spend 2 More Days per Year in Traffic in 2017 Than in 2008<\/h2>\n
Workers Spend 39 More Hours per Year Commuting in San Francisco<\/h2>\n
Seattle\u2019s Workforce Surges 26%, Commuting Gets Complicated<\/h2>\n
Las Vegas, Memphis & Denver Commute Times Improve<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/Commuting-time-visuals_Least-2008-2017-1-699x1024.png\")
<\/p>\nDenver & Detroit Commutes Drop; Chicago Up Slightly<\/h2>\n
Cities with the Highest & Lowest Amount of Time Commuting in 2017<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/Commuting-time-visuals_Most-2017-743x1024.png\")
<\/p>\nLong Commutes in NYC, Chicago & San Francisco<\/h2>\n
Cities Where You Spend the Least Amount of Time in Traffic<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nFinal Takeaway<\/h2>\n