Average Commute vs. Price Level by State
States with higher Price Level tend to have higher Average Commute.
Strong link: a correlation of 0.63 across 51 states.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 51 states. The correlation between Price Level and Average Commute is 0.63, a strong relationship: about 39% of the differences in Average Commute from place to place line up with Price Level. Ranked instead of measured, the link is 0.61.
The highest Average Commute is in New York (32.6), Maryland (31.1) and New Jersey (30.5); the lowest is in South Dakota (17.8), North Dakota (17.9) and Wyoming (18.8). The median state has 25.2 for Average Commute and 97.1 for Price Level.
The biggest exceptions sit furthest from the trend line. New York, West Virginia and Mississippi have a much higher Average Commute than their Price Level would predict, while Alaska, Montana and Wyoming 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 32.6 | 107.9 |
| Maryland | 31.1 | 105.0 |
| New Jersey | 30.5 | 108.8 |
| District of Columbia | 30.0 | 109.9 |
| Massachusetts | 29.1 | 105.8 |
Lowest Average Commute
| Place | Average Commute | Price Level |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 17.8 | 88.6 |
| North Dakota | 17.9 | 89.0 |
| Wyoming | 18.8 | 92.7 |
| Montana | 19.1 | 94.6 |
| Nebraska | 19.2 | 90.1 |
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