Transportation in Boston, MA
Commute patterns, travel times, and transportation modes — 2023 ACS Data
Commute Overview
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Mean Commute
25 min
+5% vs national
Drive Alone
34.1%
-57% vs national
Public Transit
24.0%
+2570% vs national
Work From Home
18.8%
+102% vs national
Carpool
5.4%
Walk / Bike
15.9%
combined
How Boston's Commute Compares
Source: Census ACS (2023)How People Get to Work
Source: Census ACS (2023)Commute Mode Breakdown
Source: Census ACS (2023)Traffic Fatalities
Source: NHTSA FARS (2023)Fatalities
18
2023
6-Year Avg
21
fatalities/yr
Pedestrian
7
Cyclist
1
Nighttime
12
dark conditions
| Year | Crashes | Fatalities | Alcohol | Pedestrian | Cyclist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 2022 | 22 | 24 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 2021 | 28 | 30 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 2019 | 19 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
| 2018 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
Data from NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Includes only crashes involving at least one fatality.
The average commute in Boston, MA is 25 minutes, which is 5.1% above the national average of 23 minutes. 34.1% of workers drive alone, compared to the national average of 78.7%. 18.8% work from home, which is above the MA state average of 15.7%. Public transit is used by 24.0% of commuters, compared to the national average of 0.9%. 5.4% of workers carpool. 13.8% walk to work. 2.1% commute by bicycle. In 2023, there were 18 traffic fatalities from 17 fatal crashes. 7 were pedestrians.