My husband is happy with a long commute (hour by car) as long as it isn't a congested commute because it enables him to process information that would otherwise occupy his mental bandwidth when home. The cost differential in housing (to be closer to his work at the minimal housing he found acceptable) is over $100k on original purchase and at least $8k/yr in taxes. Realisticly, the house he has would be $400k more within a half hour biking range of his work. So it is definitly a trade off. I'm happier at my house (we live in different cities due to work) because I can bike to just about anything conveniently. The more I bike, the more I like biking, and the better I feel. But I do love his house and will be moving there when I graduate (though I think I found a clinic to consider purchasing within a 5 mile bike ride of our house!)