Columbus enjoys shorter-than-average commutes
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Columbus workers spent less time getting to work than the national average before the pandemic — and we still come out ahead, even as commute times have dropped nationwide.
Why it matters: Quicker commutes are tied to better mental health, greater job satisfaction and a host of other personal benefits. They're also better for the environment.
- Meanwhile, city leaders have long touted our shorter commute times as an economic development advantage.
By the numbers: About 70% of Columbus workers reported a commute of under 30 minutes in 2022, up from just over 65% in 2019, per a new Axios analysis of census data.
- That's above the national average of 63% of Americans who commuted less than 30 minutes in 2022.
Zoom in: Just 4.3% of Columbus workers spent an hour or more commuting in 2022 — about half of the nationwide average.
What's happening: Remote and hybrid work is persisting in large, fast-growing places like Columbus, with a high population of young people and jobs that lend themselves to flexibility.
- That means fewer cars on the road, less traffic and quicker commutes.
Be smart: The number of Columbus-area workers who commute to a physical job location dropped by 12% between 2019-2022, even as our workforce grew 1.8% during the same time, per census data.
Between the lines: A "Great Reshuffling" over the past few years led many Americans to move or find new jobs — or both — as they began prioritizing shorter commutes in favor of more personal or family time.
Of note: Our findings don't include employees who work from home and thus have a commute time of zero minutes.
😉 Our thought bubble: Hey, the journey from the bed, to the coffeemaker, to the couch sometimes takes a few minutes!