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
