How long is the commute from Boston, MA?
Workers who live in Boston, MA take an average of 30.3 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
32.9% of workers drive alone to work.
22.6% take public transportation.
13.4% of workers walk to work.
21.3% work from home.
33.3% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 30.3 minutes (±0.3)
- Public transportation
- 22.6%
- Work from home
- 21.3%
- Households without a car
- 33.3%
How people in Boston get to work
| Means of transportation | Boston | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 32.9% (±0.7 points) | 35.4% | 61.2% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 5.2% (±0.4 points) | 6.1% | 7.0% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 22.6% (±0.7 points) | 22.4% | 6.5% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 13.4% (±0.5 points) | 12.0% | 4.1% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 4.5% (±0.3 points) | 4.2% | 2.6% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 21.3% (±0.6 points) | 19.9% | 18.6% | 15.1% |
In Boston, the average commute is lower than in Suffolk County (30.9 minutes).
It is also higher than in Massachusetts (29.1 minutes).
It is higher than the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In Boston, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Suffolk County (22.4%).
It is also higher than in Massachusetts (6.5%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).
In Suffolk County, Boston ranks 4 of 4 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 182 of 351.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in Boston
| Vehicles available | Boston | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 33.3% (±0.8 points) | 31.6% | 11.7% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 43.8% (±0.8 points) | 43.9% | 36.1% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 17.8% (±0.6 points) | 18.9% | 35.7% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 5.1% (±0.4 points) | 5.6% | 16.5% | 21.9% |
In Boston, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in Suffolk County (31.6%).
It is also higher than in Massachusetts (11.7%).
It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in Boston
| Boston | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 21.3% (±0.6 points) | 19.9% (±0.5 points) | 18.6% (±0.2 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% (±0.3 points) | 95.4% (±0.3 points) | 95.7% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 92.0% (±0.4 points) | 91.6% (±0.4 points) | 92.8% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
In Boston, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Suffolk County (91.6%).
It is also lower than in Massachusetts (92.8%).
It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near Boston
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | — | 30.3 minutes (±0.3) | — |
| Winthrop Town | 3.5 mi | 34.8 minutes (±2.8) | Higher |
| Chelsea | 4.1 mi | 32.9 minutes (±1.6) | Higher |
| Everett | 5.0 mi | 35.0 minutes (±1.5) | Higher |
| Quincy | 5.4 mi | 34.7 minutes (±1.1) | Higher |
| Somerville | 5.5 mi | 31.0 minutes (±0.8) | Not measurably different |
| Cambridge | 5.7 mi | 25.8 minutes (±0.7) | Lower |
| Revere | 5.9 mi | 34.2 minutes (±1.8) | Higher |
| Brookline (community) | 6.4 mi | 27.1 minutes (±0.7) | Lower |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cambridge, MA (25.8 minutes), Brookline (community), MA (27.1 minutes).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Winthrop Town, MA (34.8 minutes), Chelsea, MA (32.9 minutes), Everett, MA (35.0 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across Suffolk County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winthrop Town | 34.8 minutes (±2.8) |
| 2 | Revere | 34.2 minutes (±1.8) |
| 3 | Chelsea | 32.9 minutes (±1.6) |
| 4 | Boston | 30.3 minutes (±0.3) |
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 Boston
How long is the average commute in Boston?
Workers who live in Boston, MA take an average of 30.3 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in Boston without a car?
33.3% of households in Boston have no vehicle, and 22.6% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in Boston?
21.3% (±0.6 points) of workers who live in Boston worked from home, and 92.0% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Boston city, Massachusetts
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Boston city, Massachusetts
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Boston city, Massachusetts
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 Boston city, Massachusetts (place:07000, in state:25).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The API needs a free 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.
Figures last updated on .
Related
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- Population growth in Boston
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- Crowding and facilities in Boston
- Local landlord and tenant rules in Boston
- Massachusetts landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Suffolk County
- Massachusetts places ranked by commute time
- Housing data for every place in Massachusetts