How long is the commute from National City, CA?

Name: Commute and cars in National City, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in National City, CA take an average of 25.4 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

68.5% of workers drive alone to work.

4.0% take public transportation.

4.3% of workers walk to work.

6.5% work from home.

10.9% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 25.4 minutes (±1.4)
Public transportation: 4.0%
Work from home: 6.5%
Households without a car: 10.9%

How people in National City get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	National City	San Diego County	California	United States
Drove alone	68.5% (±2.4 points)	65.9%	65.7%	68.8%
Carpooled	14.6% (±1.9 points)	8.1%	9.5%	8.5%
Public transportation	4.0% (±1.1 points)	1.9%	2.9%	3.2%
Walked	4.3% (±1.2 points)	3.2%	2.4%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	2.0% (±0.7 points)	2.2%	2.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	6.5% (±1.4 points)	18.7%	17.2%	15.1%

In National City, the average commute is not measurably different from San Diego County (25.5 minutes).

It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In National City, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in San Diego County (1.9%).

It is not measurably different from California (2.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (3.2%).

In San Diego County, National City ranks 36 of 50 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 686 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in National City

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	National City	San Diego County	California	United States
No vehicle	10.9% (±1.8 points)	5.5%	7.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	35.5% (±3.3 points)	30.6%	30.7%	33.1%
2 vehicles	32.1% (±2.9 points)	39.4%	36.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	21.5% (±2.4 points)	24.5%	25.8%	21.9%

In National City, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in San Diego County (5.5%).

It is also higher than in California (7.1%).

It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in National City

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	National City	San Diego County	California	United States
Workers working from home	6.5% (±1.4 points)	18.7% (±0.3 points)	17.2% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	93.2% (±1.8 points)	97.6% (±0.1 points)	96.9% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	87.8% (±1.9 points)	94.9% (±0.2 points)	93.5% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In National City, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in San Diego County (94.9%).

It is also lower than in California (93.5%).

It is lower than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near National City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with National City
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
National City	—	25.4 minutes (±1.4)	—
Coronado	3.5 mi	18.1 minutes (±1.2)	Lower
Bonita	5.3 mi	23.9 minutes (±2.4)	Not measurably different
Chula Vista	5.5 mi	28.6 minutes (±0.6)	Higher
Lemon Grove	5.9 mi	29.2 minutes (±2.7)	Higher
La Presa	6.3 mi	26.9 minutes (±1.3)	Not measurably different
Imperial Beach	6.8 mi	27.1 minutes (±1.4)	Not measurably different
Spring Valley	8.3 mi	26.2 minutes (±1.2)	Not measurably different
La Mesa	8.4 mi	23.8 minutes (±0.9)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Coronado, CA (18.1 minutes).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Chula Vista, CA (28.6 minutes), Lemon Grove, CA (29.2 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across San Diego County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
29 (tie)	Vista	26.7 minutes (±0.8)
31	San Marcos	26.5 minutes (±0.9)
32	Spring Valley	26.2 minutes (±1.2)
33	Casa de Oro-Mount Helix	26.0 minutes (±1.4)
34	Winter Gardens	25.9 minutes (±1.9)
35	Lakeside	25.6 minutes (±1.8)
36	National City	25.4 minutes (±1.4)
37	Poway	25.3 minutes (±1.0)
38	Bostonia	24.9 minutes (±2.0)
39	El Cajon	24.8 minutes (±0.9)
40	Encinitas	24.7 minutes (±1.0)
41	Bonita	23.9 minutes (±2.4)
42	La Mesa	23.8 minutes (±0.9)

Showing 13 of 50 places in San Diego County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about National City

How long is the average commute in National City?

Workers who live in National City, CA take an average of 25.4 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in National City without a car?

10.9% of households in National City have no vehicle, and 4.0% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in National City?

6.5% (±1.4 points) of workers who live in National City worked from home, and 87.8% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for National City city, California (place:50398, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.