What's your average commute? What's the maximum you would commute? (Arlington: day care, house)

[Bigfoot424]

I commute one hour each way but I go against traffic (Manassas to Front Royal) so it's an easy and fairly commute.

[The Dissenter]

My current commute is 10 minutes but last year this time it was 45 minutes and 42 miles. I didn't like it because I was driving that distance. If I were going to do that long a commute, I'd at least rather be on a train.

[kutra11]

Current commute: 20 - 30 mins (8 miles) one way.

I have always compromised buying a larger, bigger house in Ashburn, Centerville, etc. because both, my wife and I, hate longer commute times and believe in spending more time with the family or pursuing personal goals in your time outside of work. Living in Vienna, and now in Oakton, has given us a shorter commute and a great school district. Of course, I have this luxury because both our jobs are in Tysons Corner and have been there for the last twelve years!

[Deeman804]

I live in Arlington about 3 miles from work and it takes 10 driving or a 20 min morning/15 evening bus route. I am not used to dealing with the traffic here and will do many things to avoid a long commute including financial and neighborhood sacrifices. It all depends on what you prioritize.

The general cutoff for most people I know is 35 minutes once you get past that you need a major incentive like a hip neighborhood, great school zone, fancy car, nice house or tons of extra saving money to make the sacrifice. My friends that do a long commute and don't have any of the above either have young children or are looking for other places to live.

[winnie610]

1. What's your average commute?
An hour and some change coming from Winchester to Fairfax

2. What's the longest you have done (and for how long)?
An hour and a half to an hour 45 from King George to Fairfax

3. Whatever you consider as an uncomfortable commute time (meaning, "would move to the next job as soon as you get one"), what is the %age hike (if any) that would convince you to take up this new position (and bite the bullet on the commute)?
The hour and a half commute from King George area was killer. I consider the difference between my current hour commute and that extra half hour my breaking point.
I'm willing to go an hour, maybe a little more but an hour and a half is just too long to do every day.
The reason I'm willing to do an hour is because I'm sick of the congestion in Fairfax and have found that I'm craving more open space and land, etc. So an hour is my compromise.

[katyusha25]

Originally Posted by spencgr

My commute doubled when we moved to Middleburg. Ironically, we were moving because I couldn't stand my commute. I learned that the actual time spent on the commute is not what bothered me, it was sitting in traffic. I was irritated whenever I got home. Now (with twice the commute), I am not.

So, don't just calculate the time, the actual specific commute should factor in. And, what's good for the gander isn't necessarily good for the geese. Even if 100% of people respond that 70+ min commute is reasonable (and most people won't), it doesn't matter. It only matters what you can tolerate.

My average commute over my career is about 30 minutes. My current commute is 1.5 hours each way.

Totally agree. I went from having a 20 minute (6 mile) commute from South Riding to a 45 minute (24 mile) commute from Middleburg. But I leave so early, I never sit in traffic. And I'm fine with it.

[katyusha25]

Originally Posted by vauser

I was wondering if a longer commute affected one's mood and relationships, and from the responses thus far, it sure does appear that way.

Yes, absolutely (if you're me, anyway.)

I used to commute an hour to work* (and longer coming home) in California. I did it for 7 years, and boy, was I an angry bird. Seriously, that commute made me hate life.

*SITTING in traffic.

[Virginia Prime]

My current commute is on average 20 minutes both way. I live in Old Town Alexandria and work in Arlington, so it's a relatively easy Metro ride.

The longest commute I did was on average 45 minutes both way.

An uncomfortable commute time for me would depend upon what methods of travel were available. For example, I would be miserable doing an hour commute one-way each day if it involved driving the entire distance. However, if it involved a combination of driving and taking VRE, then I would be inclined to consider it.

[sonnymarkjiz]

Originally Posted by vauser

Clarification: Moving about 10 miles from where we currently live, do contracting work in the area, and hence, need to keep my eyes and ears open for new contracts every now and then. Prefer Reston, Herndon, Chantilly, etc, but do work in McLean at times, and am okay with that. Where it gets tricky is - Falls Church, Alexandria and DC. Have consciously avoided that thus far, and hope to continue to be able to do it, but it gets tricky at times.

A 60 minute test commute seemed *okay* but it was done at off peak hours, and only once or twice. Doing it every single day at peak traffic might be a different beast altogether.

I was wondering if a longer commute affected one's mood and relationships, and from the responses thus far, it sure does appear that way.

Oh okay. Well, I live in Brambleton now actually. My fiancee commutes to Reston, I commute to McLean/Tysons, and I have a roommate that goes to DC for work everyday.

Reston from Brambleton takes her about 15-20 mins, using the roll road.

My commute to McLean is about 30 minutes on average. Again, I use the Toll Road as well.

My roommate takes the Loudoun County bus near Old Ox Road and takes it to DC. It's about 3 bucks one way or so he told me, and he said leaving the house til the time he's in his office is 55 mins-1hr (The bus takes the Airport median lane on 267W). So it's doable.

[Snd485]

I take public transport (bus and metro) and it takes me about 45 min to get to work.

My current commute is the longest I've had. I've been doing it for 2 years.

I'd consider any commute longer than the one I currently have to be uncomfortable. But I would commute up to an hour for a job with promotion potential, a 10% raise, or a really great perk like loan forgiveness or more of vacation time...as long as I could take public transport. If I had to drive to my new job, I'd want a 20% raise to cover the cost of a car and parking and I wouldn't want to drive more than 30 min. But if it was a good opportunity, I'd most likely take the job and move somewhere closer rather than deal with a longer commute. I'm a renter so moving wouldn't be a big deal.