Journal
What is the Ideal Living Distance from Work in San Francisco?
It’s safe to say that those who live at The Harrison boast one of the most coveted commutes in San Francisco. Here, residents are less than a mile from the new Facebook office while Apple, LinkedIn, Google, Dropbox, Salesforce and the rest of the city’s flourishing tech hub, are likewise just moments away. This unrivaled commute got us thinking:
What is the ideal living distance from work in San Francisco?
How We Get on the Go
In San Francisco, an average of 32.4 percent of people use public transportation while 4.4 percent bike to work. These percentages are far higher than the national averages of 11 percent and less than 1 percent, respectively.
Going Public
San Francisco has been coined one of the nation’s best cities for public transportation, making one’s travel to and from work entirely effortless and accessible. In fact, 98 percent of the population lives within a half-mile of public transit that operates regularly. This allows San Franciscans the extra time to catch up on emails, call loved ones, read, listen to music and beyond, which, evidence shows, has a substantial impact on your health: less back aches, better sleep, lower blood pressure and more.
Step by Step
Interestingly, public transit and walkability are related: evidence shows that cities in which most people walk to work are those that boast the best transit systems, so it should come as no surprise that The Golden City has also been dubbed one of the best locales in the country to bike or walk to work. It’s scientifically proven that health and happiness improve with a biking or walking commute so, some residential buildings also include office space, it may be best to live at least a walk away and give yourself some distance.
Of course, not everyone has the ability to walk to work. But, if you’re able to walk to and from a nearby transit system, and subsequently use the time while commuting to accomplish something you love, you will—undoubtedly—reap the benefits.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, what’s truly important is your return-to retreat—that place where you can relax and recenter following a long day. At The Harrison, we pride ourselves on providing this essential urban sanctuary while being just moments from some of the largest employers in the country.