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50 cities with the greenest commutes

Posted at 10:16 AM, Apr 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-20 10:22:22-04

A majority of Americans, 59 percent, believe that stricter environmental regulations are worth the cost, according to Pew Research Center. These environmental beliefs don’t stop most people from driving alone to work, however. Not only does this harm the environment with CO2 emissions, but it contributes to traffic congestion and longer commute times. Taking public transportation, carpooling, walking and biking are easy ways to lessen your carbon footprint, and people in some cities do so much more than others.

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Using data from the American Community Survey, the analysts at FindTheHome looked at cities larger than 50,000 people and discovered the 50 cities with the greenest commutes. These cities have the highest percentages of workers over 16 years old who take public transportation, carpool, walk or bike to work.

Given that environmental attitudes and political leanings are often related, state party affiliation tends to correlate with certain environmental views.

Of the 50 cities listed, 41 reside in Democratic-leaning states, according to Gallup polls. Six of which are in California and 13 in New Jersey — two stereotypically blue states. Of the nine remaining cities, one lies in a Republican-leaning state and the other eight are in competitive states (those that don’t lean one way or another).

Note: Though it may seem that some cities are tied in terms of percentage of “Green Commuters” (those who take public transportation, carpool, walk or bike to work), they are not. These percentages have been rounded to the nearest tenth.

#50. Camden, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 34.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 13.5%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.3%
Percent Walking to Work: 5.8%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 14.9%
Population: 77,294

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#49. Paterson, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 34.8%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 12.3%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 4.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 18.1%
Population: 146,341

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#48. Lakewood, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 34.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 3.2%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.2%
Percent Walking to Work: 9%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 21.5%
Population: 51,944

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#47. Bloomington, IN

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.1%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 6.6%
Percent Biking to Work: 4.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 14.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.9%
Population: 81,963

Political Leaning of State: Republican

#46. Huntington Park, CA

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.2%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 13.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 5%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 15.4%
Population: 58,787

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#45. Boulder, CO

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.2%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 9%
Percent Biking to Work: 10.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 10.1%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 6%
Population: 102,002

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#44. Miami Beach, FL

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.3%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 10.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 5.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 12.9%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 6.9%
Population: 90,669

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#43. Baltimore, MD

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 18.2%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.8%
Percent Walking to Work: 6.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 9.8%
Population: 622,271

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#42. Ann Arbor, MI

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.7%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 10.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 4.6%
Percent Walking to Work: 14.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 6.1%
Population: 115,985

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#41. Urban Honolulu, HI

Percent of Green Commuters: 35.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 12.5%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 8.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 12.8%
Population: 345,130

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#40. New Rochelle, NY

Percent of Green Commuters: 36.1%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 20.7%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 7.1%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.2%
Population: 78,476

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#39. Daly City, CA

Percent of Green Commuters: 36.4%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 20.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.2%
Percent Walking to Work: 2.6%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 13.3%
Population: 103,897

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#38. Quincy, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 36.8%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 26.2%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 2.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.2%
Population: 92,920

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#37. Reading, PA

Percent of Green Commuters: 36.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 8.7%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 7.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 20%
Population: 88,051

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#36. New Haven, CT

Percent of Green Commuters: 37.3%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 12.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 2.8%
Percent Walking to Work: 12.8%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 9.3%
Population: 130,553

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#35. Mount Vernon, NY

Percent of Green Commuters: 37.4%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 24.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 6.2%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 6.8%
Population: 67,962

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#34. Oakland, CA

Percent of Green Commuters: 37.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 19.1%
Percent Biking to Work: 2.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 4.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 11.2%
Population: 402,339

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#33. Trenton, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 37.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 12%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.5%
Percent Walking to Work: 4.4%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 20.6%
Population: 84,459

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#32. White Plains, NY

Percent of Green Commuters: 37.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 20.8%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.5%
Percent Walking to Work: 9.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 7.4%
Population: 57,505

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#31. East Orange, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 38%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 23.2%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 5.8%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.9%
Population: 64,538

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#30. Iowa City, IA

Percent of Green Commuters: 38.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 9.6%
Percent Biking to Work: 3.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 16.4%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.6%
Population: 70,597

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#29. Revere, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 38.8%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 26.6%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 2.8%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 9.2%
Population: 53,258

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#28. Hartford, CT

Percent of Green Commuters: 39.1%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 17.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.7%
Percent Walking to Work: 7.6%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 13.4%
Population: 125,211

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#27. Davis, CA

Percent of Green Commuters: 39.3%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 6.1%
Percent Biking to Work: 21.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 3.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 7.6%
Population: 66,093

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#26. Arlington, VA

Percent of Green Commuters: 39.4%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 27%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.5%
Percent Walking to Work: 5.1%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 5.8%
Population: 220,173

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#25. Pittsburgh, PA

Percent of Green Commuters: 39.4%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 16.9%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.8%
Percent Walking to Work: 10.9%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 9.9%
Population: 306,045

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#24. Yonkers, NY

Percent of Green Commuters: 40.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 26.3%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 5%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 9.6%
Population: 198,654

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#23. Seattle, WA

Percent of Green Commuters: 41%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 19.6%
Percent Biking to Work: 3.7%
Percent Walking to Work: 9.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.4%
Population: 637,850

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#22. Bayonne, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 41.2%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 23.1%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 8%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 10%
Population: 64,763

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#21. New Brunswick, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 41.7%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 10.8%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.3%
Percent Walking to Work: 14%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 15.7%
Population: 55,804

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#20. Silver Spring, MD

Percent of Green Commuters: 42.6%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 27.9%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.6%
Percent Walking to Work: 3.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 10.8%
Population: 75,748

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#19. Evanston, IL

Percent of Green Commuters: 43.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 21.6%
Percent Biking to Work: 3.5%
Percent Walking to Work: 12.5%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 6%
Population: 75,282

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#18. Passaic, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 43.7%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 18.5%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 6.1%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 18.1%
Population: 70,651

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#17. Hempstead, NY

Percent of Green Commuters: 44%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 24.9%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 4.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 14%
Population: 54,801

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#16. Chicago, IL

Percent of Green Commuters: 44.2%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 27.2%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 6.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.9%
Population: 2,712,608

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#15. Philadelphia, PA

Percent of Green Commuters: 45.7%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 26.5%
Percent Biking to Work: 2%
Percent Walking to Work: 8.5%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 8.8%
Population: 1,546,920

Political Leaning of State: Competitive

#14. Malden, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 46.2%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 30.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.6%
Percent Walking to Work: 3.4%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 11.8%
Population: 60,309

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#13. Newark, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 48.7%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 26.8%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 8.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 13.3%
Population: 278,750

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#12. Brookline, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 52.2%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 26.7%
Percent Biking to Work: 4.1%
Percent Walking to Work: 15.8%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 5.5%
Population: 59,016

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#11. Berkeley, CA

Percent of Green Commuters: 52.7%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 20.8%
Percent Biking to Work: 8.5%
Percent Walking to Work: 16.2%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 7.1%
Population: 115,688

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#10. San Francisco, CA

Percent of Green Commuters: 54.5%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 32.9%
Percent Biking to Work: 3.8%
Percent Walking to Work: 10.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 7.5%
Population: 829,072

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#9. Somerville, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 54.8%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 30.5%
Percent Biking to Work: 5.3%
Percent Walking to Work: 11.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 7.7%
Population: 77,560

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#8. Boston, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 56.3%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 33.3%
Percent Biking to Work: 1.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 14.7%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 6.4%
Population: 639,594

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#7. Washington D.C.

Percent of Green Commuters: 60.1%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 38%
Percent Biking to Work: 3.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 12.4%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 5.8%
Population: 633,736

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#6. Cambridge, MA

Percent of Green Commuters: 63.1%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 27.7%
Percent Biking to Work: 6.9%
Percent Walking to Work: 24.5%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 4%
Population: 106,844

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#5. Jersey City, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 63.3%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 47.5%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 8.3%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 7.1%
Population: 255,861

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#4. West New York, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 65.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 43.4%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.6%
Percent Walking to Work: 11.6%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 10.3%
Population: 51,511

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#3. Union City, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 65.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 40.7%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.4%
Percent Walking to Work: 13%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 11.8%
Population: 68,001

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#2. Hoboken, NJ

Percent of Green Commuters: 66.9%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 55.1%
Percent Biking to Work: 0.8%
Percent Walking to Work: 8.1%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 2.9%
Population: 51,979

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

#1. New York City, NY

Percent of Green Commuters: 72.1%
Percent Taking Public Transportation to Work: 56.2%
Percent Biking to Work: 1%
Percent Walking to Work: 10.1%
Percent Carpooling to Work: 4.8%
Population: 8,354,889

Political Leaning of State: Democratic

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