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Commuting by Workers
Los Angeles County

Traffic in Montebello

Traffic in Montebello. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.


The U.S. Census estimated that, in 2020, seven percent of Los Angeles County workers, age 16-plus, worked outside the county. Less than half a percent worked outside California.

Means of Transporation to Work - Workers Age 16+

Means of Commuting 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total Workers 4,753,898 100.00% 4,780,680 100.0% 4,399,339 100.0% 3,858,750 100.0%
All Commuters 4,234,400 89.07% 4,396,232 92.0% 4,198,889 95.4% 3,724,107 96.5%
Means of Commuting 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Commuted by Car, truck, or van 3,769,492 79.29% 3,902,247 81.6% 3,671,019 83.4% 3,296,964 85.4%
Drove alone 3,329,219 70.03% 3,449,024 72.1% 3,173,055 72.1% 2,714,944 70.4%
Carpooled 440,273 9.26% 453,223 9.5% 497,964 11.3% 582,020 15.1%
In 2-Person Carpool 330,147 6.94% 340,432 7.1% 385,482 8.8% 436,478 11.3%
In 3-Person Carpool 66,562 1.40% 66,252 1.4% 68,717 1.6% 89,802 2.3%
In 4-or-More-Person Carpool 43,564 0.92% 46,539 1.0% 43,765 1.0% 55,740 1.4%
Means of Commuting 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Public Transportation (excluding taxi) 234,147 4.93% 257,977 5.4% 311,701 7.1% 250,834 6.5%
Bus 193,456 4.07% 213,338 4.5% 283,961 6.5% 234,662 6.1%
Subway or Elevated Rail 24,544 0.52% 27,072 0.6% 2,450 0.1% 6,200 0.2%
Long-Distance Train or Commuter Rail 9,513 0.20% 11,261 0.2% 15,317 0.3% 7,660 0.2%
Light Rail, Streetcar or Trolley 4,949 0.10% 4,982 0.1% 9,647 0.2% 1,946 0.1%
Ferryboat 1,685 0.04% 1,324 0.0% 326 0.0% 366 0.01%
Means of Commuting 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Bicycle 29,567 0.62% 32,169 0.7% 32,423 0.7% 24,015 0.6%
Walked 116,234 2.45% 123,965 2.6% 125,816 2.9% 113,004 2.9%
Taxicab, Motorcycle, or Other Means(3) 84,960 1.79% 79,874 1.7% 57,930 1.3% --- ---
Taxicab(3) --- --- --- --- --- --- 3,257 0.1%
Motorcycle(3) --- --- --- --- --- --- 6,758 0.2%
Commuted by other means(3) --- --- --- --- --- --- 29,275 0.8%
Worked at Home 519,498 10.93% 384,448 8.0% 200,450 4.6% 134,643 3.5%

(1) Census estimate calculated from data and surveys collected over the preceeding 5-year period. The U.S. Census ceased collecting commuting data directly from decennial census respondants after 2000 and now uses annual statistical surveys.
(2) Decennial (every 10 years) Census count
(3) Commuting by taxicab, motorcycle and other means were combined under a single category after 2010 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau


Commuter Travel Time to Work - Workers Age 16+

Travel Time to Work 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Workers Who Didn’t Work at Home 4,234,400 100.0% 4,396,232 100.0% 4,198,889 100.0% 3,724,107 100.0%
Less than 5 minutes 52,099 1.23% 52,123 1.2% 68,759 1.6% 57,417 1.5%
5 to 9 minutes 229,678 5.42% 237,856 5.4% 296,411 7.1% 265,372 7.1%
10 to 14 minutes 432,070 10.20% 444,776 10.1% 488,395 11.6% 447,538 12.0%
15 to 19 minutes 574,922 13.58% 588,505 13.4% 589,273 14.0% 547,333 14.7%
Travel Time to Work 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
20 to 24 minutes 573,557 13.55% 587,355 13.4% 598,255 14.2% 532,606 14.3%
25 to 29 minutes 240,592 5.68% 242,364 5.5% 231,165 5.5% 210,383 5.7%
30 to 34 minutes 749,999 17.71% 772,733 17.6% 726,722 17.3% 624,474 16.8%
35 to 39 minutes 125,578 2.97% 128,104 2.9% 115,460 2.7% 106,670 2.9%
40 to 44 minutes 218,554 5.16% 227,172 5.2% 200,135 4.8% 165,115 4.4%
Travel Time to Work 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
45 to 59 minutes 442,414 10.45% 474,382 10.8% 392,064 9.3% 360,152 9.7%
60 to 89 minutes 434,231 10.25% 466,067 10.6% 364,470 8.7% 283,292 7.6%
90 or more minutes 160,706 3.80% 174,795 4.0% 127,780 3.0% 123,755 3.3%
Mean travel time to work (minutes) 31.4 --- 31.7 --- 29.0 --- 29.4 ---

(1) Census estimate calculated from data and surveys collected over the preceeding 5-year period. The U.S. Census ceased collecting commuting data directly from decennial census respondants after 2000 and now uses annual statistical surveys.
(2) Decennial (every 10 years) Census count

Source: U.S. Census Bureau


Commuter Departure Time to Work - Workers Age 16+

Departure Time for Work 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Workers Who Didn’t Work at Home 4,234,400 100.0% 4,396,232 100.0% 4,198,889 100.0% 3,724,107 100.0%
12:00am - 4:59am 263,364 6.22% 259,026 5.9% 204,024 4.9% 153,945 4.1%
5:00am - 5:29am 195,976 4.63% 199,675 4.5% 179,241 4.3% 135,930 3.7%
5:30am - 5:59am 180,799 4.27% 187,008 4.3% 188,278 4.5% 171,690 4.6%
6:00am - 6:29am 365,643 8.64% 383,127 8.7% 381,218 9.1% 321,709 8.6%
Departure Time for Work 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
6:30am - 6:59am 301,811 7.13% 316,481 7.2% 347,269 8.3% 345,747 9.3%
7:00am - 7:29am 577,524 13.64% 608,318 13.8% 598,802 14.3% 536,571 14.4%
7:30am - 7:59am 372,387 8.79% 393,104 8.9% 429,757 10.2% 495,569 13.3%
8:00am - 8:29am 554,375 13.09% 570,694 13.0% 518,485 12.3% 433,720 11.7%
8:30am - 8:59am 256,531 6.06% 272,470 6.2% 256,107 6.1% 221,227 5.9%
Departure Time for Work 2021(1) 2020(1) 2010(1) 2000(2)
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
9:00am - 9:59am 402,474 9.50% 419,201 9.5% 363,335 8.7% 289,034 7.8%
10:00am - 10:59am 173,684 4.10% 177,204 4.0% 160,260 3.8% 127,074 3.4%
11:00am - 11:59am 70,894 1.67% 73,523 1.7% 65,648 1.6% 52,994 1.4%
12:00pm - 3:59pm 285,359 6.74% 293,065 6.7% 270,235 6.4% 231,923 6.2%
4:00pm - 11:59pm 233,579 5.52% 243,336 5.5% 236,230 5.6% 206,974 5.6%

(1) Census estimate calculated from data and surveys collected over the preceeding 5-year period. The U.S. Census ceased collecting commuting data directly from decennial census respondants after 2000 and now uses annual statistical surveys.
(2) Decennial (every 10 years) Census count

Source: U.S. Census Bureau