New York commuters face some of the nation's highest estimated costs in lost time getting to and from work, with the value of commuting time exceeding $12,000 a year in several downstate counties, according to an analysis by Opus Virtual Offices based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
The study estimated the value of commuting time by comparing average travel times with local full-time wages. New York County, which includes Manhattan, had the state's highest estimated annual commuting-time value at $12,789, based on roughly 250 hours spent traveling to and from work each year. New York County ranked sixth nationally among the 2,192 counties included in the study.
New York overall ranked fourth among the 50 states for the estimated annual value of commuting
time, at an average of $8,873 per commuter, according to the study. Twelve New York counties ranked among the 100 counties with the highest estimated annual commuting costs nationwide.
The least expensive commute in New York was in Jefferson County in the North Country. The study valued commuters' time there at $3,809 a year, based on an estimated 156 hours of commuting.
Top 10 New York counties with the highest annual commuting costs
- New York County: $12,789/249.6 hours a year
- Putnam County: $12,722/314.4 hours a year
- Richmond County: $12,414/344.8 hours a year
- Nassau County: $12,379/288 hours a year
- Westchester County: $12,002/276.8 hours a year
- Kings County: $11,640/333.6 hours a year
- Queens County: $10,510/343.2 hours a year
- Suffolk County: $9,432/248.8 hours a year
- Orange County: $9,151/272.8 hours a year
- Dutchess County: $9,140/249.6 hours a year
Top 10 New York counties with the lowest annual commuting costs
- Yates County: $4,600/178.4 hours a year
- Cattaraugus County: $4,580/180.8 hours a year
- St. Lawrence County: $4,517/168 hours a year
- Allegany County: $4,492/182.4 hours a year
- Chemung County: $4,486/161.6 hours a year
- Seneca County: $4,334/170.4 hours a year
- Broome County: $4,290/156.8 hours a year
- Franklin County: $4,273/165.6 hours a year
- Chautauqua County: $4,027/156.8 hours a year
- Jefferson County: $3,809/156 hours a year
Top 10 U.S. counties with the highest annual commuting costs
- Falls Church, Virginia (city): $13,639/229.6 hours a year
- San Francisco County, California: $13,619/243.2 hours a year
- Calvert County, Maryland: $13,362/314.4 hours a year
- Elbert County, Colorado: $13,344/330.4 hours a year
- Loudoun County, Virginia: $12,917/240.8 hours a year
- New York County, New York: $12,789/249.6 hours a year
- Putnam County, New York: $12,722/314.4 hours a year
- Charles County, Maryland: $12,520/331.2 hours a year
- Richmond County, New York: $12,414/344.8 hours a year
- Nassau County, New York: $12,379/288 hours a year
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY's most expensive commute is valued at $12,789 a year. See where it ranks
