How long is the commute from New York City, NY?

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

Workers who live in New York City, NY take an average of 40.3 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

21.6% of workers drive alone to work.

44.0% take public transportation.

9.2% of workers walk to work.

16.9% work from home.

55.3% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 40.3 minutes (±0.1)
Public transportation: 44.0%
Work from home: 16.9%
Households without a car: 55.3%

How people in New York City get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	New York City	New York	United States
Drove alone	21.6% (±0.2 points)	48.8%	68.8%
Carpooled	4.3% (±0.1 points)	6.3%	8.5%
Public transportation	44.0% (±0.3 points)	21.6%	3.2%
Walked	9.2% (±0.2 points)	5.6%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	4.0% (±0.1 points)	2.8%	2.0%
Worked from home	16.9% (±0.2 points)	14.9%	15.1%

In New York City, the average commute is higher than in New York (32.6 minutes).

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

In New York City, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in New York (21.6%).

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

Statewide, it ranks 21 of 1,003.

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

Cars per household in New York City

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	New York City	New York	United States
No vehicle	55.3% (±0.3 points)	29.2%	8.4%
1 vehicle	31.9% (±0.2 points)	33.6%	33.1%
2 vehicles	9.7% (±0.1 points)	25.4%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	3.0% (±0.1 points)	11.8%	21.9%

In New York City, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in New York (29.2%).

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

Working from home and internet access in New York City

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	New York City	New York	United States
Workers working from home	16.9% (±0.2 points)	14.9% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	94.7% (±0.1 points)	94.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	90.5% (±0.2 points)	90.8% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In New York City, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in New York (90.8%).

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

Average commute in places near New York City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with New York City
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
New York City	—	40.3 minutes (±0.1)	—
Hoboken	7.4 mi	36.8 minutes (±1.0)	Lower
Jersey City	7.4 mi	36.8 minutes (±0.7)	Lower
Weehawken Township	8.4 mi	36.8 minutes (±2.6)	Lower
Union City	8.7 mi	33.1 minutes (±1.1)	Lower
Bayonne	9.0 mi	33.7 minutes (±1.7)	Lower
West New York Town	9.3 mi	34.5 minutes (±1.8)	Lower
Guttenberg Town	9.6 mi	38.7 minutes (±3.3)	Not measurably different
Inwood	9.9 mi	35.1 minutes (±3.6)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Hoboken, NJ (36.8 minutes), Jersey City, NJ (36.8 minutes), Weehawken Township, NJ (36.8 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 New York City

How long is the average commute in New York City?

Workers who live in New York City, NY take an average of 40.3 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in New York City without a car?

55.3% of households in New York City have no vehicle, and 44.0% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in New York City?

16.9% (±0.2 points) of workers who live in New York City worked from home, and 90.5% 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 New York city, New York (place:51000, in state:36).

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.