Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Report: Commuters in Eugene, Oregon Have It Best

false

Today on the Streetsblog Network, Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland outlines a study conducted by financial websites TheStreet and Bundle which ranks the most and least expensive cities for commuters. According to the study's authors, about seven in ten American communities are considered affordable based on housing costs alone. When commuting costs are factored into the equation, that figure drops to just four in ten.

The cost of commuting has always been an under-appreciated expense for homeowners -- particularly in exurban regions. In his analysis, Maus also notes that providing low-cost transportation options may have helped some cities rise to the top of the list:

When looking at data like average length of commute, miles traveled, annual hours delayed, auto expenses, and gas prices, the study found that Eugene was at the top of the "best" list. Dallas, Texas was on the bottom. Portland came in at 42nd.

While the analysis doesn't mention how or if bike-ability plays into the equation, it should be noted that Eugene and Boulder, Colorado — two of the most bike-friendly cities in the country — ranked in the top ten on the "best commute" list (first and eighth respectively).

A survey of U.S. cities shows that, when transportation costs are figured into the equation, moving out to the suburbs for a cheaper house isn't as affordable as most people think.

The impact of the housing crisis in far-flung exurban areas has alerted many Americans to the full costs of drive-til-you-qualify home purchases, and a few policy reforms advanced by the Obama administration aim to uncover this hidden cost of homeownership.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Baltimore Spokes features a great documentary about what it's like to be a cyclist in Florida, one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians and bike riders. TBD on Foot outlines Washington, D.C.'s plans to install "multi-modal displays" in bus shelters around town with real-time information about transit services, car- and bike-sharing. And Publicola takes on the Seattle Housing Authority for reserving huge plots of land near new public hoousing projects for parking, while transit options are abundant.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

West Side Pols Call on Trump Administration to Stop Illegally Blocking 10th Ave. Bike Lane

The DEA blockade of the 10th Avenue bike lane continues, and local politicians are demanding the federal agency stop denying cyclists safety.

October 1, 2025

When the DOT Takes Your Bike: A Cyclist’s Guide to Getting It Back 

A bike commuter's frustrating journey through New York's bureaucratic maze reveals a hidden problem affecting cyclists citywide. 

October 1, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: This is Your DOT on Drugs Edition

Yes, that's our editor consuming drugs in front of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration office on 10th Avenue to protest the agency's seizure of the bike lane. Plus other news.

October 1, 2025

BIG ZERO: Trump Stiffs MTA in ‘Sanctuary City’ Tantrum

The federal government is denying the MTA tens of millions of dollars in public safety funding over of New York's immigration policies.

September 30, 2025

Gale’s A-Blowin’: Brewer Abandons Daylighting Bill After Push By Parking-First DOT

DOT's anti-daylighting "scare tactics" have peeled off Council Member Gale Brewer, who says the policy will gobble up too many parking spots.

September 30, 2025

DATA: Not Paying Fines? Keep Speeding, Says New York City

It's yet another case of "anything goes" for drivers in Adams's New York.

September 30, 2025
See all posts