How long is the commute from Harlan, IA?

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

Workers who live in Harlan, IA take an average of 13.7 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

78.8% of workers drive alone to work.

0.5% take public transportation.

4.3% of workers walk to work.

10.2% work from home.

4.5% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 13.7 minutes (±2.6)
Public transportation: 0.5%
Work from home: 10.2%
Households without a car: 4.5%

How people in Harlan get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Harlan	Shelby County	Iowa	United States
Drove alone	78.8% (±6.2 points)	75.6%	76.0%	68.8%
Carpooled	5.2% (±3.0 points)	4.4%	7.8%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.5% (±0.7 points)	0.5%	0.7%	3.2%
Walked	4.3% (±2.7 points)	5.7%	2.9%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	1.0% (±1.1 points)	1.0%	1.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	10.2% (±4.7 points)	12.8%	11.3%	15.1%

In Harlan, the average commute is lower than in Shelby County (18.5 minutes).

It is also lower than in Iowa (19.8 minutes).

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

In Harlan, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Shelby County (0.5%).

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

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

In Shelby County, Harlan ranks 11 of 11 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 885 of 918.

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

Cars per household in Harlan

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Harlan	Shelby County	Iowa	United States
No vehicle	4.5% (±2.7 points)	3.2%	5.4%	8.4%
1 vehicle	39.0% (±6.7 points)	27.2%	30.5%	33.1%
2 vehicles	33.7% (±6.1 points)	35.1%	37.8%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	22.8% (±4.9 points)	34.5%	26.3%	21.9%

In Harlan, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Shelby County (3.2%).

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

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

Working from home and internet access in Harlan

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Harlan	Shelby County	Iowa	United States
Workers working from home	10.2% (±4.7 points)	12.8% (±3.0 points)	11.3% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	85.3% (±5.3 points)	91.3% (±2.3 points)	94.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	83.1% (±5.1 points)	88.3% (±2.4 points)	88.9% (±0.2 points)	91.0%

In Harlan, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Shelby County (88.3%).

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

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

Average commute in places near Harlan

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Harlan
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Harlan	—	13.7 minutes (±2.6)	—
Westphalia	5.9 mi	23.9 minutes (±9.7)	Higher
Kirkman	6.3 mi	15.5 minutes (±5.4)	Not measurably different
Tennant	7.2 mi	19.8 minutes (±7.8)	Not measurably different
Panama	9.3 mi	17.5 minutes (±10.0)	Not measurably different
Portsmouth	9.9 mi	22.8 minutes (±6.5)	Higher
Earling	10.0 mi	19.2 minutes (±3.8)	Higher
Irwin	12 mi	17.9 minutes (±6.4)	Not measurably different
Avoca	12 mi	24.4 minutes (±3.3)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Westphalia, IA (23.9 minutes), Portsmouth, IA (22.8 minutes), Earling, IA (19.2 minutes).

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

Average commute across Shelby County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
5	Tennant	19.8 minutes (±7.8)
6	Earling	19.2 minutes (±3.8)
7	Defiance	18.7 minutes (±4.4)
8	Irwin	17.9 minutes (±6.4)
9	Panama	17.5 minutes (±10.0)
10	Kirkman	15.5 minutes (±5.4)
11	Harlan	13.7 minutes (±2.6)

Showing 7 of 11 places in Shelby 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 Harlan

How long is the average commute in Harlan?

Workers who live in Harlan, IA take an average of 13.7 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Harlan without a car?

4.5% of households in Harlan have no vehicle, and 0.5% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Harlan?

10.2% (±4.7 points) of workers who live in Harlan worked from home, and 83.1% 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 Harlan city, Iowa (place:34500, 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.