‘Burb Your Enthusiasm
Commuting costs often outweigh savings from living in suburbs, researchers say
The cost of commuting more than 12 miles often nullifies the savings of cheaper suburban housing, says a new study by the Center for Housing Policy. Low- to moderate-income families are often pushed to outer suburbs by a lack of affordable housing near job centers; then, as public transportation is generally scarce, they drive not only to work, but on nearly every trip and errand. In 28 major metropolitan areas, families earning $20,000 to $50,000 spend an average 29 percent of their annual salary on transportation and 28 percent on housing, the study found. Earth-polluting aside, all that driving is just a damn waste, says Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth: “A three-car family puts a lot of money into depreciating assets, instead of into mortgages and college educations.”