How long is the commute from Washington, DC?

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

Workers who live in Washington, DC take an average of 30.0 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

27.4% of workers drive alone to work.

20.3% take public transportation.

9.5% of workers walk to work.

33.0% work from home.

36.0% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 30.0 minutes (±0.4)
Public transportation: 20.3%
Work from home: 33.0%
Households without a car: 36.0%

How people in Washington get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Washington	District of Columbia	United States
Drove alone	27.4% (±0.8 points)	27.4%	68.8%
Carpooled	4.0% (±0.3 points)	4.0%	8.5%
Public transportation	20.3% (±0.7 points)	20.3%	3.2%
Walked	9.5% (±0.4 points)	9.5%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	5.9% (±0.4 points)	5.9%	2.0%
Worked from home	33.0% (±0.8 points)	33.0%	15.1%

In Washington, the average commute is not measurably different from District of Columbia (30.0 minutes).

It is higher than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Washington, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from District of Columbia (20.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).

Cars per household in Washington

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Washington	District of Columbia	United States
No vehicle	36.0% (±0.8 points)	36.0%	8.4%
1 vehicle	46.4% (±0.7 points)	46.4%	33.1%
2 vehicles	14.3% (±0.5 points)	14.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	3.2% (±0.3 points)	3.2%	21.9%

In Washington, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from District of Columbia (36.0%).

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

Working from home and internet access in Washington

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Washington	District of Columbia	United States
Workers working from home	33.0% (±0.8 points)	33.0% (±0.8 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	96.5% (±0.4 points)	96.5% (±0.4 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	91.2% (±0.5 points)	91.2% (±0.5 points)	91.0%

In Washington, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from District of Columbia (91.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Washington

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Washington
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Washington	—	30.0 minutes (±0.4)	—
Mount Rainier	3.8 mi	31.8 minutes (±3.2)	Not measurably different
Colmar Manor	4.2 mi	32.9 minutes (±3.6)	Not measurably different
Brentwood	4.2 mi	34.4 minutes (±3.0)	Higher
Cottage City	4.3 mi	35.2 minutes (±3.4)	Higher
North Brentwood	4.5 mi	40.9 minutes (±9.2)	Higher
Chillum	4.8 mi	36.5 minutes (±1.4)	Higher
Arlington	4.9 mi	26.2 minutes (±0.4)	Lower
Hyattsville	5.1 mi	33.7 minutes (±2.1)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Arlington, VA (26.2 minutes).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Brentwood, MD (34.4 minutes), Cottage City, MD (35.2 minutes), North Brentwood, MD (40.9 minutes).

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

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 Washington

How long is the average commute in Washington?

Workers who live in Washington, DC take an average of 30.0 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Washington without a car?

36.0% of households in Washington have no vehicle, and 20.3% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Washington?

33.0% (±0.8 points) of workers who live in Washington worked from home, and 91.2% 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 Washington city, District of Columbia (place:50000, in state:11).

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.