(STACKER) — When the COVID-19 pandemic made millions of Americans remote workers, it also abruptly ended many of the commutes that bookend the workday. As some of those workers return to the office, conversations around the drawbacks of commutes have become more intense. For a while, those workers enjoyed more time in the morning and evening that wasn’t spent simply traveling to and from work—an unpaid portion of the day that ate up time and energy. And it’s not a small amount of time, either: Pre-pandemic, the average commute in the U.S. was a hair over 27 minutes one way, according to Census Bureau data. It was a record high. Cumulatively, 27 minutes each way translates to 54 minutes a day, or four-and-a-half hours per week. That’s 18 hours a month and 216 hours a year spent commuting.
Those who commute know it’s not particularly idyllic. While a very small portion of workers live in the ideal scenario—a short, walkable distance from the office, along a sidewalk that is presumably regularly shoveled in the winter and where the temperature doesn’t result in a sweaty arrival in the summer—most endure clogged roads, unpredictable public transit, and the frustrations that come with both. Of course, not all commutes are as bad as others, and some cities have better public transit and traffic flow.
Stacker compiled a list of the cities with the worst commutes in Indiana using data from the Census Bureau. Cities with at least 5,000 working adults are ranked by the longest average commute time as of the 2021 5-year estimate.
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Indiana
Stacker
#25. New Haven
– Average time spent commuting to work: 21.7 minutes
– National rank: #1520
Stacker
#24. Bedford
– Average time spent commuting to work: 21.9 minutes
– National rank: #1492
Stacker
#23. Gary
– Average time spent commuting to work: 22.4 minutes
– National rank: #1422
Stacker
#22. Beech Grove
– Average time spent commuting to work: 22.6 minutes
– National rank: #1391
Stacker
#21. Washington
– Average time spent commuting to work: 22.8 minutes
– National rank: #1358
You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive homes in Indiana
Stacker
#20. Franklin
– Average time spent commuting to work: 23.5 minutes
– National rank: #1271
Stacker
#19. Westfield
– Average time spent commuting to work: 23.8 minutes
– National rank: #1230
Stacker
#18. Indianapolis city
– Average time spent commuting to work: 23.9 minutes
– National rank: #1219
Stacker
#17. East Chicago
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.1 minutes
– National rank: #1169
Stacker
#16. Connersville
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.1 minutes
– National rank: #1165
You may also like: Most diverse counties in Indiana
Stacker
#15. Anderson
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.4 minutes
– National rank: #1118
Stacker
#14. Valparaiso
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.4 minutes
– National rank: #1116
Stacker
#13. Greenfield
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.5 minutes
– National rank: #1108
Stacker
#12. South Bend
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.7 minutes
– National rank: #1068
Stacker
#11. Hammond
– Average time spent commuting to work: 24.7 minutes
– National rank: #1055
You may also like: Counties with the lowest hospital bed capacity in Indiana
Stacker
#10. Auburn
– Average time spent commuting to work: 25 minutes
– National rank: #1019
Stacker
#9. Carmel
– Average time spent commuting to work: 25 minutes
– National rank: #1016
Stacker
#8. Lawrence
– Average time spent commuting to work: 25.4 minutes
– National rank: #956
Stacker
#7. Greenwood
– Average time spent commuting to work: 25.6 minutes
– National rank: #926
Stacker
#6. Fishers
– Average time spent commuting to work: 26 minutes
– National rank: #871
You may also like: Fastest growing cities in Indiana
Stacker
#5. Noblesville
– Average time spent commuting to work: 27 minutes
– National rank: #742
Stacker
#4. Crown Point
– Average time spent commuting to work: 27.3 minutes
– National rank: #703
Stacker
#3. Lake Station
– Average time spent commuting to work: 28 minutes
– National rank: #603
Stacker
#2. Hobart
– Average time spent commuting to work: 28.6 minutes
– National rank: #534
Stacker
#1. Portage
– Average time spent commuting to work: 29 minutes
– National rank: #491
You may also like: Best colleges in Indiana
