How long is the commute from Elma, IA?

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

Workers who live in Elma, IA take an average of 23.2 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

77.3% of workers drive alone to work.

0.0% take public transportation.

8.3% of workers walk to work.

1.8% work from home.

6.8% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 23.2 minutes (±6.8)
Public transportation: 0.0%
Work from home: 1.8%
Households without a car: 6.8%

How people in Elma get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Elma	Howard County	Iowa	United States
Drove alone	77.3% (±9.0 points)	76.4%	76.0%	68.8%
Carpooled	12.6% (±7.3 points)	8.2%	7.8%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.0% (±8.6 points)	0.0%	0.7%	3.2%
Walked	8.3% (±6.7 points)	3.4%	2.9%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	0.0% (±8.6 points)	2.0%	1.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	1.8% (±2.9 points)	10.0%	11.3%	15.1%

In Elma, the average commute is not measurably different from Howard County (23.2 minutes).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (19.8 minutes).

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

In Elma, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Howard County (0.0%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (0.7%).

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

In Howard County, Elma ranks 4 of 6 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 427 of 918.

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

Cars per household in Elma

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Elma	Howard County	Iowa	United States
No vehicle	6.8% (±6.7 points)	4.9%	5.4%	8.4%
1 vehicle	31.2% (±9.8 points)	24.5%	30.5%	33.1%
2 vehicles	33.6% (±10.9 points)	36.4%	37.8%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	28.5% (±8.9 points)	34.2%	26.3%	21.9%

In Elma, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Howard County (4.9%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (5.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Elma

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Elma	Howard County	Iowa	United States
Workers working from home	1.8% (±2.9 points)	10.0% (±2.6 points)	11.3% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	81.7% (±9.5 points)	88.8% (±2.5 points)	94.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	73.9% (±9.0 points)	85.7% (±2.5 points)	88.9% (±0.2 points)	91.0%

In Elma, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in Howard County (85.7%).

It is also lower than in Iowa (88.9%).

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

Average commute in places near Elma

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elma
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Elma	—	23.2 minutes (±6.8)	—
Alta Vista	3.6 mi	32.4 minutes (±9.8)	Not measurably different
North Washington	9.0 mi	14.8 minutes (±2.8)	Lower
Colwell	9.8 mi	26.3 minutes (±8.9)	Not measurably different
Riceville	9.9 mi	33.3 minutes (±12.5)	Not measurably different
Bassett	13 mi	15.0 minutes (±7.0)	Not measurably different
New Hampton	15 mi	15.3 minutes (±3.5)	Lower
Ionia	15 mi	16.0 minutes (±3.3)	Not measurably different
McIntire	15 mi	13.8 minutes (±6.1)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: North Washington, IA (14.8 minutes), New Hampton, IA (15.3 minutes), McIntire, IA (13.8 minutes).

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

Average commute across Howard County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
1	Riceville	33.3 minutes (±12.5)
2	Chester	31.7 minutes (±9.5)
3	Lime Springs	28.8 minutes (±4.9)
4	Elma	23.2 minutes (±6.8)
5	Protivin	19.9 minutes (±3.1)
6	Cresco	17.8 minutes (±3.6)

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 Elma

How long is the average commute in Elma?

Workers who live in Elma, IA take an average of 23.2 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Elma without a car?

6.8% of households in Elma have no vehicle, and 0.0% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Elma?

1.8% (±2.9 points) of workers who live in Elma worked from home, and 73.9% 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 Elma city, Iowa (place:25095, in state:19).

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.