How Far Do You Commute, West Bloomfield?

With a few exceptions here and there, there aren't too many of us who enjoy the daily commute to and from work. But how long is that commute for Oakland County residents and where are we going, anyway?

According to data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau, the average one-way, daily commute for U.S. workers is 25.5 minutes.

Unfortunately for West Bloomfield residents, that commute time is a little higher throughout the township depending on where you are, with most averaging out to be around 26 minutes.

Metro Detroit drivers are coming to Oakland County

Noteworthy in the census report is how many commuters are leaving their home county for work. The report notes that one in four commuters are leaving their county for work. 

Plus, nearly 600,000 workers across the country have a "megacommute" of at least 50 miles, spending at least 90 minutes on the road.

In total, more than 170,000 Oakland County residents are leaving the county for work everyday, with 60 percent commuting to Wayne County. However, most Oakland County residents aren't traveling too far: only 5.7 percent of county residents travel more than 60 minutes one-way.

Meanwhile, Oakland County continues to be a lucrative place to work and has among the highest number of workers from other counties, according to a report from Crains Detroit.

Where are they working? The biggest employers in Oakland County, Crains reports, are the Beaumont Health System, Chrysler Group, General Motors, Trinity Health and St. John Providence Health System.

West Bloomfield commute times vary per location

So how does West Bloomfield compare? According to a breakdown from the U.S. Census Bureau, published last week on Slate, the average commute time for the various zip codes in and around West Bloomfield Township is around 26, though it can vary depending on where you are:

• If you're closer to Telegraph, your commute is around 25.9 minutes
• If you live around Orchard Lake Road, however, your commute is around 26.7 minutes
• Those living up near Commerce and Keego Harbor have a daily commute of almost 30 minutes

Meanwhile, in nearby Huntington Woods, located to West Bloomfield's southeast, the average commute time is as low at 19.8 minutes — one of the lowest times in the region.

This data roughly corresponds to similar breakdowns from The Business Journals, which noted in early 2012 that 38 percent of West Bloomfield drivers commute sometime between 15-29 minutes to work every day. Another 30 percent drove between 30-44 minutes a day.

How long is your commute? Do you live in the West Bloomfield area so that you can be closer to work or do you still have a long drive?