The average commuter in Smithtown is spending more than a half hour in the car every morning commute, but Census data show they are most likely riding alone.
Despite years of high gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, 84 percent in Smithtown, 80 percent in St. James and 88 percent in Nesconset ride alone to work. Meanwhile, 6 percent in Smithtown, 4 percent in St. James and 5 percent in Nesconset carpool, according U.S. Census American Community Survey estimates from 2007-2011.
When it comes to public transportation, only 5 percent in Smithtown, 6 percent in St. James and 4 percent in Nesconset take a bus or a train to work, .3 percent in Smithtown, 1 percent in St. James and .5 percent in Nesconset use other means such as taxi, bicycle or motorcycle and .6 percent in Smithtown, 2 percent in St. James and .2 percent in Nesconset actually walk to work.
While 29.8 minutes in Smithtown, 32 minutes in St. James and 32.7 minutes in Nesconset were the average commuter times in the area, a recently compiled map by WNYC shows how commute time can vary by a minute or two depending on the neighborhood, though most communities in the greater Smithtown area hover around the 30-minute mark. Click here to see the full interactive map.
Of course, 5 percent in Smithtown, 6 percent in St. James and 2 percent in Nesconset have no commute at all: They work at home.
Census figures show that about 8.1 percent of U.S. workers have commutes of 60 minutes or longer — known as long commutes — and nearly 600,000 full-time workers had "megacommutes" of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles.
The average one-way daily commute for workers across the country is 25.5 minutes, and one in four commuters leave their county to work.
Workers who live in New York State have the highest rate of long commutes at 16.2 percent, followed by Maryland and New Jersey at 14.8 percent and 14.6 percent, respectively.
Smithtown CDP TotalCar, truck, or van - drove aloneCar, truck, or van - carpooledPublic transportation (excluding taxicab)WalkedTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other meansWorked at home White 11,695 9,896 616 522 78 42 541 Black or African American 64 64 0 0 0 0 0 American Indian and Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian 298 194 61 43 0 0 0 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Some Other Race 16 8 8 0 0 0 0 Two Or More Races 28 21 7 0 0 0 0 Hispanic or Latino 508 351 30 13 0 0 114 St. James CDPTotalCar, truck, or van - drove aloneCar, truck, or van - carpooledPublic transportation (excluding taxicab)WalkedTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other meansWorked at home White 5,440 4,375 225 327 127 59 327 Black or African American 12 0 0 12 0 0 0 American Indian and Alaska Native 23 23 0 0 0 0 0 Asian 57 38 0 13 0 0 6 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Some Other Race 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Two Or More Races 32 32 0 0 0 0 0 Hispanic or Latino 331 222 0 16 35 0 58 Nesconset CDP TotalCar, truck, or van - drove aloneCar, truck, or van - carpooledPublic transportation (excluding taxicab)WalkedTaxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other meansWorked at home White 5,696 5,098 199 237 14 34 114 Black or African American 30 15 0 15 0 0 0 American Indian and Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Asian 419 289 116 14 0 0 0 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Some Other Race 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Two Or More Races 122 122 0 0 0 0 0 Hispanic or Latino 202 189 0 13 0 0 0Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
