The concept of super commuting, where individuals live in one location but work a long distance away, has been gaining attention in recent years. Chip Cutter of The Wall Street Journal shared his experience of working in New York City while living in Columbus, Ohio, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite efforts to manage costs by looking for bargains and using travel points, Cutter exceeded his budget by 15% due to expenses related to airplane travel and hotels in New York.
It is difficult to determine the extent to which super commuting is increasing. A paper from NYU scholar Mitchell Moss and Carson Quing in 2012 highlighted the emergence of the super commuter in the 21st century. Factors such as advances in internet and mobile communications, as well as varying housing costs between affluent cities and lower-cost cities, have contributed to this trend. The U.S. Census Bureau tracks extreme commuting, defined as workers traveling 90 minutes or more one way to work, which has been on the rise since at least 1990.
The rise of remote and hybrid work arrangements during the pandemic has fueled a shift towards longer commutes within or near the same metropolitan area. Stanford scholars Arjun Ramani and Nicholas Bloom noted a “donut effect,” where city centers are hollowing out, leading to growth in suburban outer rings. Most remote work arrangements involve hybrid models that require in-office presence one or two days a week, making it more economically feasible to live further away from the job.
Certain occupations, such as healthcare, agriculture, and construction, have a long-standing tradition of long-distance workers who live away from home. For example, there is a significant number of travel nurses who reside in less expensive locations and travel long distances for work due to nursing shortages and salary differentials. Similarly, manufacturing and construction industries have a high number of travel workers due to labor and skill shortages.
Despite the common association of super commuting with white-collar professionals, there are challenges associated with this lifestyle. Higher costs related to maintaining two residences, the impact on jobs and career progression due to limited in-person networking opportunities, and strains on families and relationships are major considerations. Studies have shown higher separation rates among long-distance commuting couples and emotional and social problems in children whose fathers commute long distances for work. Ultimately, super commuting may not be suitable for everyone due to the potential drawbacks in personal and professional aspects of life.
