Enabled by Technology and Driven by Economics, the Dispersion of the U.S. Population Is transforming Our Nation

In the January 2005 issue of Trends we traced the rapid growth of the real-estate boom in the exurbs.  As we explained, according to the U.S. Census, the average commute, measured just one way from home to work, increased by roughly 20 percent from 1980 to 2000, to 25.5 minutes.

From 1990 to 2000, the number of American workers who commute from 60 to 89 minutes between home and work jumped 30 percent, from 5 million to 6.5 million people.  Those who commute 90 minutes or longer doubled, from 1.7 million to 3.4 million.