How long is the commute from Mason City, IA?

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

Workers who live in Mason City, IA take an average of 13.5 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

81.0% of workers drive alone to work.

0.9% take public transportation.

4.2% of workers walk to work.

4.3% work from home.

5.5% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 13.5 minutes (±1.1)
Public transportation: 0.9%
Work from home: 4.3%
Households without a car: 5.5%

How people in Mason City get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Drove alone	81.0% (±3.3 points)	80.1%	76.0%	68.8%
Carpooled	8.6% (±3.0 points)	7.6%	7.8%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.9% (±0.6 points)	0.8%	0.7%	3.2%
Walked	4.2% (±1.6 points)	3.3%	2.9%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	1.1% (±0.6 points)	1.0%	1.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	4.3% (±1.2 points)	7.2%	11.3%	15.1%

In Mason City, the average commute is lower than in Cerro Gordo County (15.6 minutes).

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

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

In Mason City, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (0.8%).

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

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

In Cerro Gordo County, Mason City ranks 10 of 10 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 887 of 918.

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

Cars per household in Mason City

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
No vehicle	5.5% (±1.5 points)	5.0%	5.4%	8.4%
1 vehicle	37.4% (±3.2 points)	32.7%	30.5%	33.1%
2 vehicles	41.8% (±3.5 points)	41.2%	37.8%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	15.4% (±2.4 points)	21.0%	26.3%	21.9%

In Mason City, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (5.0%).

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 Mason City

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Workers working from home	4.3% (±1.2 points)	7.2% (±1.3 points)	11.3% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	95.8% (±1.1 points)	94.7% (±1.2 points)	94.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	89.0% (±1.9 points)	89.2% (±1.4 points)	88.9% (±0.2 points)	91.0%

In Mason City, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (89.2%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (88.9%).

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

Average commute in places near Mason City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Mason City
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Mason City	—	13.5 minutes (±1.1)	—
Rock Falls	7.0 mi	19.9 minutes (±2.2)	Higher
Plymouth	7.8 mi	21.9 minutes (±1.7)	Higher
Clear Lake	8.8 mi	18.6 minutes (±2.0)	Higher
Nora Springs	9.7 mi	23.9 minutes (±3.8)	Higher
Manly	9.7 mi	20.4 minutes (±2.1)	Higher
Rockwell	12 mi	19.5 minutes (±3.4)	Higher
Hanlontown	13 mi	21.4 minutes (±3.3)	Higher
Swaledale	13 mi	23.5 minutes (±6.2)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Rock Falls, IA (19.9 minutes), Plymouth, IA (21.9 minutes), Clear Lake, IA (18.6 minutes).

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

Average commute across Cerro Gordo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
4 (tie)	Dougherty	21.9 minutes (±4.7)
4 (tie)	Plymouth	21.9 minutes (±1.7)
6	Ventura	21.8 minutes (±4.5)
7	Rock Falls	19.9 minutes (±2.2)
8	Rockwell	19.5 minutes (±3.4)
9	Clear Lake	18.6 minutes (±2.0)
10	Mason City	13.5 minutes (±1.1)

Showing 7 of 10 places in Cerro Gordo 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 Mason City

How long is the average commute in Mason City?

Workers who live in Mason City, IA take an average of 13.5 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Mason City without a car?

5.5% of households in Mason City have no vehicle, and 0.9% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Mason City?

4.3% (±1.2 points) of workers who live in Mason City worked from home, and 89.0% 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 Mason City city, Iowa (place:50160, 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.