Transportation in Seattle, WA
Commute patterns, travel times, and transportation modes — 2023 ACS Data
Commute Overview
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Mean Commute
18 min
-22% vs national
Drive Alone
37.6%
-52% vs national
Public Transit
13.9%
+1442% vs national
Work From Home
31.3%
+236% vs national
Carpool
5.1%
Walk / Bike
10.8%
combined
How Seattle'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
35
2023
6-Year Avg
32
fatalities/yr
Pedestrian
13
Cyclist
1
Nighttime
20
dark conditions
| Year | Crashes | Fatalities | Alcohol | Pedestrian | Cyclist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 35 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 2022 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 20 | 3 |
| 2021 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 22 | 3 |
| 2020 | 26 | 28 | 10 | 14 | 1 |
| 2019 | 27 | 28 | 3 | 14 | 2 |
| 2018 | 19 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
Data from NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Includes only crashes involving at least one fatality.
The average commute in Seattle, WA is 18 minutes, which is 21.8% below the national average of 23 minutes. 37.6% of workers drive alone, compared to the national average of 78.7%. 31.3% work from home, which is above the WA state average of 12.7%. Public transit is used by 13.9% of commuters, compared to the national average of 0.9%. 5.1% of workers carpool. 8.3% walk to work. 2.5% commute by bicycle. In 2023, there were 35 traffic fatalities from 33 fatal crashes. 13 were pedestrians.