It sounds great, but like anything, there are tradeoffs. "What's the best-paying job I can find" vs "what's the best-paying job I can find within biking distance" are very different questions. The difference in income may far outweight the commuting costs.

Then again, they may not. But it should be considered. One strategy would be to find the job, then move to within a few miles of it. But again, do the real estate costs of living there outweigh the gains? It's complicated.

The health benefits are probably the only really clear part. :) And no, you can't put a price on that. (Unless a gym membership would be equivilent...)

Ken lives in California. Climate, dress code, public transport availability, security - all are decisive factors when choosing a mode of transportation.

Car is just like another family member in terms of expenditure and long distance commute by car can be a real time sink baring audio books and pod casts.