How Long Does It Take Your Husband to Get Home from Work?

Updated on May 22, 2012
K.A. asks from North Brunswick, NJ
66 answers

My husband currently drives 30 mins from work to home at night. We are contemplating buying a home but buying the home would mean that my husband would have to drive 45 mins home every night instead of 30. How long does it take your husband to get home?

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M.H.

answers from New York on

from 1 hr to 2 hrs depending on traffic. 45 mins is not bad. I drive that.

I read some of the post. To have a nice new home. I would give up 30 minutes more of the day. By the time I pick up the kids my daughter school work is done and we have a nice dinner and family before bed. :) (son 4)

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H.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

My hubby worked a job where the closest we lived was a 45-50 minute drive away he lasted 3 years...Now he works 6 miles away maybe 10 minute drive. He will never go back to what it was!!

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

K.:

My husband does the public transportation route - bus and metro.

All said from door to door? 55 minutes. but for him it's worth EVERY second. He doesn't worry about finding a parking spot, traffic jams, rain, sleet, snow - none of it. He walks out the back door, up the hill to the side walk, catches the bus....doesn't have to de-ice anything or wait for the car to warm up....takes the bus to the metro station - gets on the metro and walks to the office.

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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

You dont mention how many kidlets you have...who would be missing out on Daddy time.

Having experienced long commutes for my husband....I would never do that again. And I think 45 minutes falls into that category.

After awhile those long commutes really affect the quality of your life, unless your husband is a loner and enjoys listening to his radio audio books.

It is less time with family, less time for personal interests, whether hobbies or exercise, not able to run home quickly for social or school events.

There will come a time in your life when a long commute does not need to be balanced with family obligations.

So I vote, keep the shorter commute. Live simply. Save up for even a better home.

POST EDIT....I just read that you have a 2 yr old diagnosed with sensory processing disorder....A longer commute will put way more medical and social responsibility on your shoulders.

2 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

It takes the average commute 2 hours both ways (true statistic!)

It takes my husband 10-20 minutes, depending on which route he takes home, the time of day, traffic, etc.

2 moms found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

Right now he works from home. He used to drive 2.5 hours each way to work. Sometimes you do what you need to. When we lived in PA all the good paying jobs were in NJ or NY so no matter what you had to commute. To live closer to work was very congested with people and outrageously expensive.
To me a 30 minute or 45 minute is nothing, when I was working it was always at least an hour. Mostly due to traffic.

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M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

It used to be almost an hour and a half (light to medium traffic). It sucked, so we moved. Now, it is 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Sooooo much better!

ETA: This drive was on top of 12 to 13 hour workdays. If the days are shorter, the drive may not matter so much in terms of family time.

1 mom found this helpful

R.A.

answers from Providence on

My husband used to commute to Boston every day from RI. That would mean at least 2 hours til he would come home. Now, he works all over New England, so sometimes, it takes even longer. Most days he works from home, so it isn't too bad.

30 minutes for us would be a breeze! I used to commute an hour each day back and forth to MA, so we probably aren't the right people to ask! It all is a matter of preference, and what you can handle. It works for us, but it may not with other families.

1 mom found this helpful

E.A.

answers from Erie on

7 minutes each way on his bike, 10 minutes in the car (I know, go figure, right?), 15-20 minutes walking, depending on the weather, how soon after a snow fall it is, how many people decided to shovel... We use all of these methods depending on the weather. To drive him to work every day wastes a lot of gas (lots of stop and go city driving), so I only do that if it's raining or icy. He'll ride his bike in the snow.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

30-45 minutes. And he drives slow. Should be 20.
It takes me 50. I drive fast. Should be 60.

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Takes hubby roughly 40-45 minutes each way. He leaves an hour before he is supposed to start work.

Updated

Takes hubby roughly 40-45 minutes each way. He leaves an hour before he is supposed to start work.

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R.S.

answers from San Antonio on

When he worked downtown about 35 minutes...and he enjoyed the time to decompress on the way home.

Now his office is literally one stop light away from our house...if he hits it green less then 3 minutes door to parking garage.

He comes home for lunch when he doesn't have client lunches two or three days a week.

We enjoy the savings on gas...however work gets home with him some days as he does not have the time to decompress before coming in the front door.

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

60-75 minutes, and sometimes up to 5 hours if we have a snow storm!

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

depending on weather and traffic ... 45 minutes to 3 hours.

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

20 minutes now. It used to take him an hour. I hated that, and so did he.

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P.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

...before or after the affair? LOL
(sorry, I couldn't help it!)

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B.F.

answers from Chicago on

When we bought our house it was important that it was somewhat close to his work. We found something really close. It takes him about 10 minutes to walk to work. He is really happy about living so close to work - it adds a lot of quality to our life. He enjoys that extra half hour of playtime with the kids in the evening. I like it too. Every time the weather goes crazy I'm thankful that he doesn't have to commute on those nasty Greater Chicago freeways.

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M.K.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

30 minutes if he takes the train. 30-90 minutes if he drives depending on traffic. About 15 years ago I used to drive 1.5-3 hrs one way to and from work again depending on traffic. My job was in another state and moving was not an option. But I loved my job and it was totally worth it. We live in a huge metro area where traffic is horendous. I suggest your husband try and drive it during the time he would normally be going to work or coming home to get a feel of how long the drive really would be.

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

One hour and 30 minutes door to door.

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

We live about 23 miles from his job, but the commute is 45-75 min each way, depending on weather and traffic. We moved into a new house 2 years ago but stayed in the same town. We like where we live so we obviously feel it is worth the drive to stay here. It is all about personal preferences and priorities.

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Tell him to be thankful for the 45 minute commute each way. My husband left work a little early yesterday (3pm) and he got home about 510. If he leaves on time (330) then it's anytime between 6 and 7, normally closer to the 630 mark.

Did I mention he has to leave around 4?

My commute is about 10 minutes tthough. And one of us needs to be that close for the kids.

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

We found a home near the busline. We are about 12 miles from his office. He walks (or rides his bike) about a mile to catch a direct bus downtown. It takes him about 35 minutes door to door when he can ride his bike to the bus stop. In winter, when he has to walk, it takes about 45 minutes.

When we lived in the city (3 miles from downtown) he took the bus, and it took about the same amount of time, since it was a bus that stopped every block instead of the direct bus.

J.

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

half hour or so each way, depending on the day but normally half hour its 13 or 26 miles each way i cant remember what he said

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M.X.

answers from Las Vegas on

20 minutes for him. 30-45 min for me depending on lights and traffic. I hate it. I moved from a crappy job 4 minutes away to a much better job but a longer commute. I think a commute over 10-15 is too long but I have been spoiled with many jobs less than a few min away

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

it takes my husband about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic lights. He gets off work at 10pm so there is no rush hour for him either

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J.F.

answers from Tallahassee on

On average, it takes him about 20 minutes to get home. If traffic is light it could take as little as 15 minutes and if traffic is heavy it could take as long as 25 - 30 minutes.

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M.N.

answers from Missoula on

We almost live right next to where my husband works, so about 2-3 minutes. 5 minutes max. We are renting and we chose this apartment for that exact reason :) Although hopefully next month we will be moving into a bigger place. Then it will take about 15-20 minutes. Well worth it though for stretching room for our toddlers :)

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

3.5 minutes. Literally. We found our office and then found our home. We lived in San Francisco and refused to commute after that. We spend so much time with our kids.

My BIL commuted 3 hours each way and never saw his kids or my SIL...so he changed jobs, since they can't sell their home. He now commutes 35 minutes each way.

It all about what you are willing to do.

R.B.

answers from La Crosse on

It takes him 20 mins to get home.

But most people who live in our town have to drive 45mins. That is the closest bigger city to us. That's how far we have to drive to go to a store ( other than small ones that cost 3x as much as anywhere else) to the Dr, Dentist anything.

Once your use to the drive, it doesn't seem that far. You get use to it.

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P.M.

answers from Denver on

wow, there are song long commutes here! it takes my husband about 25 minutes to get home.

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

between 1 hr and 1 hr 15 mins. We live outside Chicago and he works downtown.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

hubby's commute 15 mins each way.
my commute 1 1/2 hours each way.

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

25 minutes normally. His schedule ranges sometimes it's earlier sometimes its later. Depends on how long his meetings last.

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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

My husband is a stay at home dad, but it takes ME about 20 minutes to commute to work each way.

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G.T.

answers from Rochester on

My husband is retired now, but we were very lucky when he was working. It only took him 7 minutes (10 minutes if it was snowing) to get to work everyday. We live less then 4 miles away.

But my brother in law (also retired now) used to take over 2 hours to get to work every day. And another 2 hour to get home. He lives on Long Island and worked in Manhattan. His wife would drive him to the train station every morning, where he caught the train to Penn Station. Then take the subway for part of the way, then catch a city bus. After getting off the bus he had to walk the last 3 blocks. He did this everyday for over 40 years! And thought nothing of it! It would have driven my husband (and me) nuts! A normal 8 hour work day turns into a 12 hour day when the commute is that long. It certainly didn't leave him much time to spend with his wife and kids.

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S.G.

answers from Washington DC on

That is 1.5 hours away from you and your children everyday he goes into the office. If I had the choice I'd move as close to work as possible. Sitting in traffic takes a toll on you and also your husband already only has little time in the evening to be with you and the kids. Just think if he'd have another hour or so in the day to spend with his family. That is a lot of time! Plus, if he ever wanted he could come home during lunch if he lived close enough to his work.

It takes my husband an hour to get to work and he hates it, I hate it, we want to move close to his work! It sucks! Sometimes traffic is horrible and it takes him over an hour!

H.V.

answers from Cleveland on

Thankfully we found a house close to his work. It takes about 15-20min each way, depending on if he gets stuck behind idiots or not :)

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A.C.

answers from Savannah on

What's 15 minutes if the neighborhood is good and the house is what you want?
My husband: 30 minutes. But growing up, we lived in an amazing community far from my dad's gross work city (he worked in a chemical plant "city"): he had about an hour commute.

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

1-1.5 hours depending on traffic. We could have moved closer to his work, but we knew this was the area we were suppose to be in and I told him I didn't want to live in the hurricane evacuation zone!

✤.J.

answers from Dover on

It takes my husband about 45 minutes each way to work. I'm only about 15-20 minutes away. When we first got married we both worked about an hour away from home. If he's already driving half an hour each way, an extra 15 minutes won't make much of a difference I bet.

C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

Getting there 15 minutes. Coming home 10 minutes.

He works until either 11 pm or 1 am so there's no traffic!

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My husband is in sales so drives around all day. But our actual office is less than a 1/2 mile from home. So if he comes from the office, it takes about 3 minutes if he hits both lights when they are green. =)

D.F.

answers from El Paso on

It use to take him about 30-45mins.
Then he started having an affair with his bosses sons
Wife and its started taking him 1-2hrs.
So id say 45mins isnt bad :-)

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

45 min, unless there's heavy snow, then closer to 1 1/2 hrs

Something to keep in mind

N.C.

answers from Rockford on

My hubs works 50 miles from home, so minimum, an hour one way...it stinks! He usually gets home and has to change and go to some sport he is coaching. On nights there is not practice, we veg and don't feel bad about it! I work at home, but it's still 11 - 12 hours a day! If you have lil ones, that extra time might make a big difference...how much do you want/need this new house? Is the area a better area? Better schools? I guess it would depend on your reasons for moving!

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A.C.

answers from Madison on

My husband took a new job this summer that requires him to drive 45 minutes one way to work.

I like the fact that he's sacrificing for our family, but I don't like that he has to drive almost 2 hours a day (factoring in extra time for winter/snow/bad road conditions). After we got our affairs in order and pay down debt, we're going to be moving closer to the town he's working in. We will be moving out of the "big" city and into smaller town/country life, which we both came from and would prefer to get back to.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

It takes my husband two hours door to door, each way. It's frustrating because he can't be home quickly if there is an emergency, if I'm not feeling well, having a bad day, etc. Plus, he takes the train, so he doesn't even have flexibility to leave whenever he wants, since the train only runs a few times a day.

Reading the replies - I can't believe how long it takes so many husbands! I expected most people to say 30 minutes or less!

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

My husband drives about 55 miles to work. Each way. Before we built/moved into this house, he was driving about 40 miles, each way. His work is in a teeny tiny town (gotta love those federal planners back in the 60's, right?) in the literal middle of nowhere, with a subway in a gas station and a Wendy's as pretty much the only fast food. There is a Winn Dixie grocery store, though.

Before either of the two places I have already mentioned, he was driving about 45-50 miles/minutes each way. All of the three places we have lived, he was working at the same place. He's been making this sort of commute now for over 15 years. No, it isn't fun. Yes there is PLENTY of downside. But, usually when he gets home he is fully decompressed from work and ready to be with the family. And the alternative, for us anyway, is to live in nowhere-land with 2 kids. Sorry. He's always driven/commuted, as do most of the people he works with, because nobody wants to live in BFE, 30 miles from a Walmart or grocery store, with no restaurants and one school with no choices.
If your husband's job supports the additional commuter expense (gas isn't going back to $1.00/gallon) and he can deal with the drive, then you will learn to deal with it, too. Where my husband works, he doesn't really face much traffic getting to and from, so his drive time is ALL mileage. Maybe for your husband, there is more traffic and less miles, so he might be affected adversely by dealing with the traffic?

L.M.

answers from New York on

25 to 45 min depending on traffic.

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T.C.

answers from Johnson City on

Depending on weather and traffic it takes mine 20-40 minutes, usually about 30, he works graveyard so gets stuck in school traffic and rush hour at times and he has an old carborated vehicle and has to let it warm up sometimes to

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D.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

My husband is a retail manager at a tool store just down the street from our house so about 10 mins of driving!

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L.H.

answers from New York on

We're lucky. We car pool. It only takes us 10min.-20min. depending on the traffic. Ok, I'll stop bragging. If you're lucky enough to be a SAHM, why not look for a house closer to his work. Take your time buying a home and be careful not to fall in love with a house because it's pretty. You can always change the colors/decor to fit your style. Don't forget to argue the price down. Never, ever offer the asking price for a house/property even if the price is reduced.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Wow! I'm shocked by some of these commute times! It takes my husband about 10-15 minutes and he works such long hours that I think I would die if he had 30 minutes or more to commute, it would make it so much harder! I guess I should be more thankful! ;)

After reading the responses, I guess 15 more minutes each way should be considered, but my first inclination was no way!

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

Right now my husband's commute is short, but we are moving back to the DC area again and his commute will be at least 1 hour, if we are lucky. But we decided that it is best for our family to live further away from the city to have a house instead of an apartment, better schools, and I will still be able to stay home as opposed to going back to work to support the cost of living closer to DC.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

We are in queens, ny and he works in soho. It takes him an hour and a half both ways by train and bus.

Enjoy his short commute, 30 or 45. It totally beats my poor hubby's by a long shot!

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T.M.

answers from New York on

My husband drives 3 minutes to work - 5 if he catches the red light.

I, however, dive 45 minutes each way on a good day (those are rare). Usually it's an hour but it's been up to 2.5 hours. And to make things worse, my office is moving 10 miles further away from my house in a few months :(

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

15 minutes of highway driving. He's home before 4:30 most days. It's wonderful.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Both of our commutes are varied depending on traffic and routes. On average it's about 25-30 minutes for each of us but it has taken us upward of 1 hour to get home sometimes.

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C.D.

answers from New York on

if he drive 1 1/2 hr because of traffic in nyc otherwise 35 min

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M.M.

answers from Lake Charles on

5 minutes.. used to be 20, now he gets to come home for lunch every day, I love it!

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H.M.

answers from Denver on

15 minutes but we live in a smallish town

J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

i dont have a husband but my ex used to drive an hour each way, but his new job had better bennefits and was less stressful so it was worth it...
what you have to think of more is; what roads he will be taking, because on some roads a 45 min commute in rush hour is 2 1/2 hours. Also what type of job does he have, and what hours will he get home...will it be after the kids go to bed? will he be too drained from work to do the drive, or to interact with the kids when he gets home? I dont think the extra 1/2 hour a day is that big of a deal...but it depends on how drained he will be. If the job is easier and less stessful than a current job or more money to free up stress that would come into play too!

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S.Q.

answers from Bellingham on

My husband is a SAHD, but it takes me around 8 minutes from work to home. I would do up to an hour, and probably will when we move next year.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

At my husband's last job, technically it was a 50 minute drive, but with traffic, it was over an hour, sometimes well over. My job is less than 20 minutes from home.

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

From his office it takes over an hour during rush hour. Generally speaking anywhere from fifteen minutes to a day. He does on site programming and system set up so he could be in another city, ya know?

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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

It was 1.5 hours then we moved. Then it was 45 minutes, then we moved (to a new state). Now, it is 20 minutes MAX. The first house was a really nice house, but the drive was a killer and I never saw my husband. The price of gas went up to $4 a gallon and that financially killed us. We bought a really gas efficient car, but the time away and gas really added up.

LOVE the new 20 minute commute. He can be home in no time if there is an issue or he isn't feeling well, or he left something at home. The savings in gas is AMAZING! He used to fill up every 3 days. Now it is every 2 weeks.

Just something to consider. :)

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