[cerrelio]

I can't find a closer image of the west Portland area, so I can't comment on the nature of those commutes.

I live in SF, and at work my team consists of ~16 people. Of those 16 people only 3 live in SF (city/county). The other 13 live in the East Bay or south of the city. Of those who live outside the city the majority doesn't get paid enough to live within city limits; the others get paid well but have families and couldn't reasonably afford a large enough home in the city.

People are very willing to convert time into savings (on housing). And sometimes they have no other choice.

[jrapdx3]

I'd like to see a closeup of the Portland area too. I live in Portland and while there's been a tremendous growth in the community over the last 10-20 years, Oregon has the concept of "urban growth boundaries" to preserve farm land, especially small family farming.

So most of the population here is within around 20 mi of the center of Portland, unlike Phoenix AZ where it sprawls out 100 mi or more. I'm guessing there are people who travel from/to nearby regions (e.g., Newberg, McMinnville, the "wine country") for commerce, tourism, and probably some commuters.

Perhaps there are similar considerations in other regions like SF which certainly has "tentacles" that stretch a long way out there.

[loeg]

> People are very willing to convert time into savings (on housing). And sometimes they have no other choice.

May be, but they aren't commuting from Chico! That's a 3 hour drive in good traffic.

[kylestlb]

I have worked with people who commuted from Sac to Oakland or SF a few days a week.

edit: Original post said Sac, not Chico...