The best cities for commuters

Last year, Lyft released a report highlighting the best commutes in the country (comparing 35 cities with populations over 500,000). Looking across the categories of commute-length times, cost, emissions, and downtown vibrancy, the winner was clear: Columbus, Ohio.

Following the same methodology, we've updated our commute report with another year's data. While some categories remained almost identical - the same top five cities in the quickest commutes category, for example - others saw a big change (cities that didn't break the top ten cheapest commutes last year are now in the top five). And while some cities continue to shine, there's a new city in the top spot. But before we reveal the city with the best commute overall, let's first explore how cities ranked in each category.

Quickest commutes

No matter how into audiobooks you've gotten, nobody wants a long commute. You can count on the cities listed below to have some of the fastest commutes in America. (On this score, not much has changed since last year.)

Shortest commute time: On average, commuters in America spend about 27 minutes getting to/from work. But some cities, notably Columbus, Memphis, and Fresno, have some of the fastest commutes, under 23 minutes. Over the course of a year, this four-minute difference can become over 24 hours saved.

Fastest commutes: Not all minutes are created equal. Ten minutes spent cruising on a highway is less painful than ten minutes spent bumper-to-bumper. According to Lyft's data, commuters in Fort Worth, Memphis, and El Paso average over 27 miles per hour, 4 mph faster than the average.

Least-congested commutes: The worst part of commuter traffic is not the traffic itself, but the knowledge of how fast you could be going without it. And while the typical city experiences 7% slower speeds during commuting hours, some actually go faster (2.8% faster in Columbus and 5.7% in Las Vegas).

And the winner is: Columbus, OH

Cheapest commutes

Commutes don't just cost time, they also cost money: Tolls and parking can be significant expenses for the 69.2% of Americans who commute to work alone in a vehicle each day. And for the modest share of Americans who take public transit to work, fares can add up as well.

Apart from Albuquerque, this year's cheapest commute cities are all new to the top 5 (including Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, which didn't even make the top 10 last year).

Commutes don't just cost time, they also cost money: Tolls and parking can be significant expenses for the 69.2% of Americans who commute to work alone in a vehicle each day. And for the modest share of Americans who take public transit to work, fares can add up as well.

Apart from Albuquerque, this year's cheapest commute cities are all new to the top 5 (including Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, which didn't even make the top 10 last year).

Cheapest parking: According to SpotHero, San Francisco is the priciest place to park in the country - monthly rates start at $309. But in southwest cities like Albuquerque, El Paso, and Tucson, the expense is under $60 a month.

Lowest fuel costs: Combining regional gas prices with average commute distances, we estimate the monthly cost of gas for private car commuters. On the low end are Albuquerque ($22) and Boston ($23), with San Diego and San Jose (both $48) on the high end.

Cheapest public transit: While commuting via public transit costs around $80 a month, there's a great deal of variation: A monthly bus and subway pass in New York City costs $132, but some cities (notably Albuquerque and Tucson) have eliminated their transit fares altogether.

And the winner is: Albuquerque, NM

Greenest commutes

​​In the U.S., transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And commutes are a big part of that: An average 15-mile commute in a private vehicle can lead to, roughly, an additional two to six tons of C02 emissions each year. Overall, people who live in (and take advantage of) cities that offer alternatives to driving a personal vehicle - biking, walking, public transit, etc. - have dramatically lower carbon footprints.

This year, SF beat out New York for the top spot, and Philadelphia made its debut in the top five.

Most bike-friendly: Like last year, San Francisco leads in the share of commuters who bike to work, likely due to its favorable weather conditions and strong biking culture and infrastructure. Bikeshare is also growing more popular in the city: This year, riders used Lyft-operated Bay Wheels to take an average of 300,000 trips a month, a 33% increase from last year's 200,000 monthly average.

Most carpoolers: On average, roughly 9% of people carpool to work, but this percentage is higher in southwest cities, like El Paso, Fresno, and San Antonio.

Most walkers: On average, only2% of Americans walk to work. But given that college towns tend to have the highest share of walking commuters, it's no surprise that Boston - home to 44 institutions of higher learning - overperforms. A full 14% of commuters there walk to work.

Most-used public transit: Most New Yorkers agree: The best way to get around the city is the subway, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While an average of 3.5% of commuters nationwide take public transit, New York clocks in at a whopping 48% (up slightly from 43% last year).

Fewest gas cars: Among the three-quarters of Americans who drive a private vehicle to work, some chose to mitigate environmental harm by driving an electric car. Removing this share from the sample of drivers, we find that New York and Washington, D.C., are the cities with the fewest gas-guzzling commuters (under one-third of commuters) - while the city of El Paso, at 86%, has the highest.

And the winner is: San Francisco, CA

Most vibrant commutes

Thinking beyond the literal journey, what might make a commute better? In this last section, we look at the cities with the most vibrant downtowns - as indicated by the presence of bars and shops - that draw people to linger a while after the workday is over.

This year, New York held on to its top spot, once again, and San Diego entered the top five for the first time.

Busiest downtowns: COVID took a toll on almost all city downtowns, and many have not fully recovered. But according to Lyft data, in cities like Columbus, Memphis, Charlotte, and El Paso, downtown activity far exceeds 2019 levels.

Most bustling happy hours: Let's be honest - what makes going to the office worth it? Getting a drink and gossiping with your friends or coworkers afterward. And in Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco, you are two-thirds more likely - according to Lyft data - to go to a bar or restaurant after work.

Busiest shoppers: Beyond happy hour, the possibility of doing some shopping after work can make a commuter's trip downtown worth it. Lyft data suggests that the retail-rich cities of San Francisco, New York, and recently, Denver are most likely to entice commuters.

Green space: Taking a walk in a park before or after work can also add to a downtown's attractiveness, so we included how much land in a city is devoted to green space - a metric where New Orleans (26%) and Washington, D.C., (21%) excel.

Vacancy rates: Empty offices suggest a less lively downtown, so we subtracted a city's vacancy rate from its vibrancy score.

And the winner is: New York, NY

Best commute

Considering all four measures, 2025's best city for commuters is El Paso, Texas, due to its speedy, cheap commutes and booming downtown.

Methodology