As more and more companies are taking a hardline stance about returning to the office, the daily commute is becoming more of a concern for many workers—but not quite so much for folks in Columbus, Ohio.
A study by average commuter times by The Wall Street Journal found the capitol of Ohio to have the quickest average commute time in the country, coming in at just 22 minutes. That’s roughly one-third of the national average, which stand at 27 minutes each way, according to the Census Bureau’s American Commuter Survey.
A drive that’s just a few minutes shorter might not sound like a lot, but it can add up to more than 20 hours regained per year for someone venturing to the office three days a week.
Overall, average commute times are still lower than they were before the pandemic, by about a minute.
The Journal’s calculations aren’t just tied to the average commute time. Average speeds during rush hour (as taken from Lyft rides in those periods) are also factored in to calculate a final score, as is the percent change in traffic during commuting hours. So while Milwaukee commuters (who ranked eighth) spend a bit less time in the car than people in Columbus, they’re moving slower, impacting the final score.
The cities with the worst commutes… well, you can probably guess those, based on population. Here’s how the WSJ ranked the best and worst cities for commuters.
Quickest commutes
Columbus, Ohio
Las Vegas, Nev.
Memphis, Tenn.
Fresno, Calif.
El Paso, Texas
Worst commutes
New York
Chicago
Los Angeles