Average Commute vs. Price Level by City
US cities with higher Price Level tend to have higher Average Commute.
Strong link: a correlation of 0.66 across 418 US cities.CorrelationHow closely two metrics move together, from −1 to +1. Near +1: both rise together. Near −1: one rises as the other falls. Near 0: no clear link.More in the glossary →
Each dot in the chart is one of 418 US cities. The correlation between Price Level and Average Commute is 0.66, a strong relationship: about 44% of the differences in Average Commute from place to place line up with Price Level. Ranked instead of measured, the link is 0.70.
The highest Average Commute is in California City, CA (43.3), Victorville, CA (40.4) and New York, NY (40.3); the lowest is in Estes Park, CO (13.3), Mankato, MN (13.9) and Dubuque, IA (14.6). The median place has 22.9 for Average Commute and 98.4 for Price Level.
The biggest exceptions sit furthest from the trend line. California City, CA, Victorville, CA and Hartsville, TN have a much higher Average Commute than their Price Level would predict, while Estes Park, CO, Bend, OR and Boulder, CO have a much lower one.
This is a comparison across places, not proof that one causes the other: both can follow from something else, such as income, age or how urban a place is. Price Level is from 2024 and Average Commute from 2024.
Highest Average Commute
| Place | Average Commute | Price Level |
|---|---|---|
| California City, CA | 43.3 | 100.9 |
| Victorville, CA | 40.4 | 106.4 |
| New York, NY | 40.3 | 112.6 |
| Palmdale, CA | 39.9 | 113.6 |
| St. Cloud, FL | 35.9 | 101.4 |
Lowest Average Commute
| Place | Average Commute | Price Level |
|---|---|---|
| Estes Park, CO | 13.3 | 101.1 |
| Mankato, MN | 13.9 | 91.0 |
| Dubuque, IA | 14.6 | 87.3 |
| Grand Forks, ND | 14.8 | 86.7 |
| Great Falls, MT | 14.9 | 96.8 |
Explore it yourself
- Open this comparison in the interactive chart to highlight places, change the metrics or colour by party.
- Full ranking and sources for Price Level
- Full ranking and sources for Average Commute