How long is the commute from Seattle, WA?
Workers who live in Seattle, WA take an average of 26.0 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
36.7% of workers drive alone to work.
11.9% take public transportation.
8.1% of workers walk to work.
34.8% work from home.
19.0% of households have no vehicle.
Figures last updated on .
- Average commute
- 26.0 minutes (±0.3)
- Public transportation
- 11.9%
- Work from home
- 34.8%
- Households without a car
- 19.0%
How people in Seattle get to work
| Means of transportation | Seattle | King County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 36.7% (±0.7 points) | 50.4% | 63.4% | 68.8% |
| Carpooled | 4.7% (±0.4 points) | 7.0% | 8.5% | 8.5% |
| Public transportation | 11.9% (±0.5 points) | 6.8% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Walked | 8.1% (±0.5 points) | 4.3% | 3.0% | 2.4% |
| Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle) | 3.9% (±0.3 points) | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2.0% |
| Worked from home | 34.8% (±0.7 points) | 29.2% | 19.8% | 15.1% |
In Seattle, the average commute is lower than in King County (27.6 minutes).
It is also lower than in Washington (26.6 minutes).
It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).
In Seattle, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in King County (6.8%).
It is also higher than in Washington (3.4%).
It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).
In King County, Seattle ranks 42 of 59 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.
Statewide, it ranks 251 of 470.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Cars per household in Seattle
| Vehicles available | Seattle | King County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 19.0% (±0.5 points) | 11.2% | 7.1% | 8.4% |
| 1 vehicle | 45.4% (±0.7 points) | 37.0% | 30.5% | 33.1% |
| 2 vehicles | 26.4% (±0.6 points) | 33.8% | 36.3% | 36.6% |
| 3 or more vehicles | 9.2% (±0.3 points) | 17.9% | 26.1% | 21.9% |
In Seattle, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in King County (11.2%).
It is also higher than in Washington (7.1%).
It is higher than the national figure (8.4%).
Working from home and internet access in Seattle
| Seattle | King County | Washington | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers working from home | 34.8% (±0.7 points) | 29.2% (±0.3 points) | 19.8% (±0.2 points) | 15.1% |
| Households with a computer | 98.2% (±0.2 points) | 98.1% (±0.1 points) | 97.1% (±0.1 points) | 95.5% |
| Households with broadband internet | 94.5% (±0.3 points) | 95.1% (±0.2 points) | 93.6% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
In Seattle, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in King County (95.1%).
It is also higher than in Washington (93.6%).
It is higher than the national figure (91.0%).
Average commute in places near Seattle
| Place | Distance | Average commute | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | — | 26.0 minutes (±0.3) | — |
| Medina | 5.1 mi | 21.3 minutes (±2.7) | Lower |
| Hunts Point | 5.9 mi | 16.6 minutes (±2.7) | Lower |
| Clyde Hill | 6.3 mi | 17.8 minutes (±1.5) | Lower |
| Yarrow Point | 6.4 mi | 18.7 minutes (±1.8) | Lower |
| Mercer Island | 6.8 mi | 23.6 minutes (±1.2) | Lower |
| Beaux Arts Village | 7.3 mi | 19.6 minutes (±4.3) | Lower |
| Bainbridge Island | 7.4 mi | 37.3 minutes (±2.9) | Higher |
| Boulevard Park | 7.5 mi | 24.2 minutes (±3.4) | Not measurably different |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Medina, WA (21.3 minutes), Hunts Point, WA (16.6 minutes), Clyde Hill, WA (17.8 minutes).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Bainbridge Island, WA (37.3 minutes).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Average commute across King County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Average commute |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Bothell | 27.7 minutes (±1.4) |
| 37 (tie) | Algona | 27.5 minutes (±5.0) |
| 37 (tie) | North Bend | 27.5 minutes (±3.5) |
| 39 | Wilderness Rim | 27.4 minutes (±3.3) |
| 40 | Shoreline | 27.2 minutes (±0.9) |
| 41 | Burien | 26.7 minutes (±1.1) |
| 42 | Seattle | 26.0 minutes (±0.3) |
| 43 | Cottage Lake | 25.9 minutes (±1.5) |
| 44 | Woodinville | 25.5 minutes (±1.4) |
| 45 | SeaTac | 25.4 minutes (±1.5) |
| 46 | Issaquah | 25.3 minutes (±1.8) |
| 47 | Skykomish | 24.9 minutes (±8.4) |
| 48 | Tukwila | 24.6 minutes (±1.2) |
Showing 13 of 59 places in King 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 Seattle
How long is the average commute in Seattle?
Workers who live in Seattle, WA take an average of 26.0 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Can you live in Seattle without a car?
19.0% of households in Seattle have no vehicle, and 11.9% of workers commute by public transportation.
How many people work from home in Seattle?
34.8% (±0.7 points) of workers who live in Seattle worked from home, and 94.5% of households have a broadband subscription.
Sources
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Seattle city, Washington
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 Seattle city, Washington (place:63000, in state:53).
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
- Housing in Seattle at a glance
- Median rent in Seattle
- Rent by bedrooms in Seattle
- Rent burden in Seattle
- Renters and owners in Seattle
- Income and affordability in Seattle
- Home values in Seattle
- Homeowner costs in Seattle
- Property taxes in Seattle
- Types of homes in Seattle
- Bedrooms in Seattle
- Age of homes in Seattle
- Vacancy rate in Seattle
- Heating fuel in Seattle
- Population growth in Seattle
- How long people stay in Seattle
- Crowding and facilities in Seattle
- Fair Market Rent in Seattle
- Washington landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across King County
- Washington places ranked by commute time
- Housing data for every place in Washington