Better to live close to work, or far away?

[blackman777]

I'm sure we all ponder this question, even if only subconsciously. On my last job I commuted about 90 miles/90 minutes whereas my boss commuted 10 miles/20 minutes. The boss saved time/gasoline but also spent ~500 dollars more on rent than I do (city living costs more). I'd say I saved more money overall.

I listen to books-on-tape, or college lectures, so I don't consider the time wasted, but somedays it would be nice to get to work in just 20 minutes. (ponder) My ex-boss only spent ~$20 more per day for the "living close to work" privilege.

What would you choose?

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[THORROMIG]

I live within 5-7 miles away from my work. My work is in a business park and I live in the subarbs. I luv & am spoiled by this simple ride home & back. As where my GF drives about 30 minutes each way to commute and totally frets with inclement weather. More the ice than anything considering she has a 4wd. I wouldn't want it any other way. This is my personal situation and I wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

When my current apartment lease is up, I will be moving 2 miles from work. It will save gas and time .. which is nice.

However, when it's time to buy a house, I am not sure what I want to do. A large part of me REALLY wants to get a house outside of the city and just commute in. If I were to live in the city, it would be easier to get a two family house and rent it out.

 

[bepperb]

Let's see. 500 dollars in rent extra divided by 20 working days a month is 25 bucks a day to save 3 hours in commuting? So my time would be worth 8.33 an hour? I like driving, and I don't mind music, but I'd pay the extra.

Then again I'd probably take a pay cut if I could work from home... then you'd get the best of both worlds (low rent and short commute).

 

[dparm]

Not having to drive to work is incredible. I would MUCH rather sit on the bus or subway for 15 minutes [and let someone else do the work] than deal with driving.

I guess it comes down to how strongly you believe in sustainable living, but I LOVED getting to work with basically zero-hassle.

 

[UG_Passat]

I rather live close. Miles and maintenance add up on your car.

I also would like to live close enough that I can ride my bicycle to work

 

[TWG1572]

I live 30 minutes away. I'd love to live closer, and did when I was single and kidless, but once I had kids school systems play a large role in where the "optimal" place to live is. My commute is longer, but my kids school is much better than it would be if I lived closer to work. I'll make that tradeoff.

 

[99Saturn]

Lots of other questions I'd add to the list, quality of life for myself and family living in both locations, future appreciation of property value, other costs past just housing and gas, etc.

I'd love to live closer but there are lots of other factors.

 

[IndyIan]

I have a few friends that live within walking/biking distance of work and they are a 1 car family, which is a $500-600/ month savings minimum. Others couples live in town but still have two cars that get driven everyday and still spend more on their cars that we do driving 140km each day, due to newer car depreciation.
I drive about 80 minutes a day which is about my limit, its easy driving but that extra hour would be nice to have somedays. I could transfer to a job that's a 10 minute drive but its $15k/year less and we would still need two cars. Probably I might save $3k in gas and wear on that commute, but losing $12k for 220 hours less driving a year probably is going to be a net negative in my quality of life. Maybe when I'm near retirement and the kids have been launched. Also we live in the middle of 100 nice acres which is worth something and nice to come home too.

 

[The_Jeff]

Closer is better. I'm 23 minutes out. I like driving like the next guy but would hate to wear a car out just going into the daily grind.

When I had a motorcycle, the commute wasn't even a commute.

 

[mrsilv04]

I live about 8 minutes from the office. I've had the job 3 years, but have lived where I live for 18 years.

This time of year, I worry about it, as my truck never fully gets up to operating temperature before I get to work and shut it off, or before I get home and shut it off.

I'll still take the 8 minute drive over an 80 minute one. No question. I used to live about 50 minutes from the college that I graduated from. Once semester, I had to drive nearly two hours, for just one 50 minute class. Thankfully, gas was around $1 a gallon back then.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I prefer to have a bit of a drive. Right now, my drive is 15 miles and takes about 30 or 35 minutes. Even still, I sometimes find myself taking the "back way" just for a longer drive. I simply love driving, and crave every minute of it, even if it's routine. I find driving very relaxing, in a way that most other activities are not. It's just me and the machine.

 

[The Critic]

I live about 4 mi from work, but it takes me 15-20 min to drive in. Shorter is better IMO, as I sometimes like to go home for lunch.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

When I've had a driving commute, I've always lived 30 miles or more from my destination. I've never had the desire to live in or around a city; my wife and I live a rural lifestyle. I currently drive nearly 40 miles to the winery, and I'll be driving about 30 miles to the county courthouse once I take office.

The lower building, land and property tax costs far outweigh the cost of fuel for commuting. I've never had added "wear and tear" on vehicles; rather they seem to require less maintenance since the normal drive is 30 or more minutes at 55 MPH.

The advantages of living in the country; the quiet, lack of traffic, and friendliness of neighbors down the road are just an added bonus.

 

[racer12306]

Originally Posted By: TWG1572
I live 30 minutes away. I'd love to live closer, and did when I was single and kidless, but once I had kids school systems play a large role in where the "optimal" place to live is. My commute is longer, but my kids school is much better than it would be if I lived closer to work. I'll make that tradeoff.


I'm in this boat. I also have the factor of right now, my wife works 25 min north of home and I work 45 min south of home. I'd rather be the one driving than her. We are planning to move north next year so I will be about 60 min and she will be about 5-10 min.

I'm more concerned with where my kids go to school than I am about my drive. Also, I'd much rather be "in the country" than in the city.

 

[SrDriver]

Have been retired 10 years and had a 25 mile commute when working the last several years. Point is gasoline was around $1.30 a gallon & now over $3.00.

Price of vehicles keeps heading upward along with insurance based on inflation.

Living long term near work will pay off + prices will only continue upward for fuel, vehicles, etc. Here insurance is based on annual miles driven too which is a factor.

Chances are too that if you are close to work that using public transportation - bicycle, etc., comes into the picture.

While working in Korea for a year was less than a mile from work and my daily driver was a bicycle and I got along just fine.

 

[supton]

I'd love to bike to work. But I'd want to live such that it wasn't more than a few minute's drive to get out of the "city". Or the 'burbs, or whatever. Just not a fan of endless asphalt and people and stuff. Wife and I like the quiet area we are in, but I feel bad that my kids don't just run over to the neighbors to play with their kids. At the same time it's been real easy to keep negative influences away from the kids, so it's been a wash.

If we didn't have roots I'd be tempted to half the distance to work, except for that whole hassle of selling and buying. Sometimes I think I wouldn't mind going back to renting, and moving every few years: experience life every which way.

 

[Boczech]

These past few years I have been driving in to a office approx. 35 miles away compared to having to drive 3-5000 miles or so a month. When my wife was ill it was a nice relief if I ever had to break away and get home soon. The older you get the more you should realize how precious time really is.


Good Luck
B

 

[fdcg27]

There are so many factors that come into play that it's hard to make a blanket statement of preference.
I'd prefer not to have to commute more than the twenty five miles each way that I do now, but what if I had the choice of a longer commute while remaining employed or going job hunting?
It also depends upon the type of driving involved.
Mine is really easy and doesn't involve much traffic.
Twenty five miles up I-75 here would be a different deal.
Even in job change situations, if both spouses work, one might end up with a considerably longer or shorter commute to their new position.
To move locally for a new job is probably futile, since so many people find themselves changing jobs either voluntarily or not.
There may not be as much choice in the lengths of our commutes as we'd like to think. It's all a matter of where you can find current employment.

 

[glock19]

For me it's the nature of the drive as well, not just the time.

For example, I used to work in rural VA and the commute was 45 minutes on winding back roads at 55 mph. I found that commute very enjoyable.Now I work in DC and the 3 mile commute into the city by car still takes 45 minutes but is just miserable stop and go. Point being, if I live in and work in a rural area I don't mind a long commute. In an urban area though, I'll pay to live as close as possible and take public transportation. Luckily in my line of work I'm able to work from home as well which is the best option.