3 SC suburban areas have among the worst driving commutes in the US. Here’s where & why
Have you ever clocked out after a grueling shift, only to have your remaining energy drained by a gridlocked commute?
It’s an unescapable fate for commuters who have to drive to work, but spending hours behind the wheel can lead to mental exhaustion. A fresh report highlights the areas where drivers are facing the brunt of the issue.
A Mission for Michael, a mental health treatment platform, surveyed over 3,000 drivers across the country to identify the commutes that result in the most burnout, factoring in congestion, roadworks and sheer time spent getting to and from work.
“Burnout is often framed as something that happens at work, but for many people, it starts and ends with the commute,” said Anand Mehta, the Executive Director of AMFM. “When you’re losing hours of your day before and after work even begins, it leaves very little room to recover. Over time, that constant drain can have a real impact on mental wellbeing — even if it doesn’t feel obvious at first.”
From the survey, 150 suburbs were listed, and three suburbs in South Carolina made the ranking. Here’s where they’re located:
3 SC suburbs among the nation’s burnout belt
#25. North Charleston, Charleston
North Charleston was ranked SC’s most annoying suburb for drivers. It’s less than 10 miles away from downtown Charleston, but with consistently heavy traffic, a drive to work can take more than an hour.
Here’s what an AMFM analyst said about North Charleston’s commute:
“The drive into Charleston becomes a fixed cost paid twice daily, borrowing time that was meant for something else. North Charleston residents feel the pinch at both ends—mornings tighter than expected, evenings arriving with less room to breathe.”
#52. Irmo, Columbia
Irmo may not be as bad as North Charleston, but driving in and out of the suburb still gets on drivers’ nerves, especially during rush hour.
“Mornings feel rushed before they’ve properly begun, and evenings offer less than they promise. The road between Irmo and Columbia takes its cut from the day without negotiation,” said the AMFM analyst.
#73. Mauldin, Greenville
Traffic in Mauldin frequently experiences congestion, and drivers going to work in Greenville often have to deal with long lines that don’t seem to ever end.
“What should be personal time gets absorbed by the commute before anyone stops to measure it. Mauldin residents working in Greenville know the rhythm well: mornings rushed, evenings offering less than they promise. The toll is subtle but persistent, accumulating week after week,” an AMFM analyst said.
These are the 5 suburbs that ranked at the top of the list:
Nation’s top 5 burnout suburbs
#1. Palmdale, Los Angeles, California
#2. White Plains, New York City, New York
#3. Tracey, San Francisco, California
#4. Homestead, Miami, Florida
#5. Temecula, San Diego, California