RALEIGH – While many workers may have a remote work option or a hybrid or flexible schedule, those who commute to an office location in Raleigh can drive safely with the knowledge that the region has one of the country’s best commuting systems.

That’s according to a new report from Clever, which analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, and other data sources to rank regions of the United States that were best, and worst, for commuters.

Raleigh ranked 10th in the study, with an average commute time of 27 minutes and annual fuel costs estimated at $778.

Study: Believe or not, Triangle has third best commute in top 50 US metros

Behind the rankings

One reason why, according to the analysis, is that Raleigh is ranked best in the nation for the cost of an average annual car insurance premium.  The study found that in many cities annual insurance premiums average $2,000. In Raleigh, premiums are $952 annually, on average.

And, since 2019, the cost of commuting in Raleigh has actually decreased by 6%.  Even with rising inflation driven in part by increasing energy costs, average commuting costs decreased from $7,430 to $6,984 annually, the study found.  And maintenance costs associated with commuting fell from $485 in 2019 to $398 in 2022.

While Raleigh area residents have commutes of 27 minutes, those are mostly congestion-free, according to the study.  The region ranked second overall for the fewest estimated hours lost due to traffic, with 6 total hours estimated.  That’s 81% less than the 32 hours lost in the average metro region, the study noted.

Charlotte ranked 22nd in the study, which ranked the top 50 most populous metropolitan statistical areas.  Durham-Chapel Hill’s metropolitan statistical area was not included in the study.

A 2020 study ranked the Raleigh-Durham region third best in the country when it came to commuting.

And commutes could improve for many workers, as a recent study found that 30% of the region’s jobs fall within one mile of a proposed light rail corridor.

Study: 30% of Triangle jobs are within one mile of proposed commuter rail corridor