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The average Californian spends about 50 minutes commuting per day. That might sound like a lot, but as residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco will tell you, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re planning on moving to California but don’t feel like spending that much time in traffic, there’s good news: California is a big state with a lot of possibilities, and many of its cities offer<\/a> significantly shorter commute times.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Here are 10 great California cities with commute times at under 25 minutes (Commute times are drawn from a study by Obrella using U.S. Census data):<\/p>\n 10. Woodland<\/b><\/p>\n Average commute time: 22 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major industries<\/b>: healthcare, agriculture, distribution, education, local government<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> As if the quaint, homey downtown wasn’t enough of a selling point, its close proximity to Sacramento makes for a simple commute. Plus, it’s a just a couple of hours away from Sonoma County, which means cheese and wine tasting is just a day-trip away.<\/p>\n 9. Palm Desert<\/b><\/p>\n Average commute time: 21 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major industries<\/b>: education, healthcare<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> Fourteen miles from Palm Springs and nestled in Coachella Valley, the scenery is tough to beat. Plus, it’s bustling with shops, restaurants and culture. Add that to a fairly quick commute time? Sounds like paradise.<\/p>\n 8. Coalinga<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: Just under 19 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: agriculture, corrections, health care, education<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> Just about an hour or so from Fresno, Coalinga is chock-full of trails, hot springs and other natural attractions.<\/p>\n 7. Redding<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 18.6 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: healthcare, manufacturing, admin<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> Its quaint downtown is walkable and bikeable, loaded with good food and craft beer \u2014 plus, about an hour away, there are hiking trails filled with caves and waterfalls.<\/p>\n 6. Santa Barbara<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 18.5 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: education, media, admin<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> It has its own airport. And with five colleges, it also boasts a highly educated population \u2014 about twice the national average! In fact, 82% of Santa Barbara residents work in white-collar jobs, with many who work in design, arts or other media.<\/p>\n 5. Chico<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 18.4 minutes <\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: sales, admin<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> A notoriously green city, Chico is known for its parks and greenways, plus bike paths that make emission-free commuting even easier. It’s a diverse city with a thriving culture, thanks in part to its proximity to Chico State.<\/p>\n 4. South Lake Tahoe<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 17.8 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: food service, admin, sales<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> Do we really have to sell you on Tahoe? Aside from the beauty of the surrounding nature, there’s the great transit system, tons of art and culture, and a million outdoor things to do all year round.<\/p>\n 3. Monterey<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 17.3 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: military, accommodations, education<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> This is another scenic spot that practically sells itself, Monterey is a scenic, historic town with clean air, efficient public transportation and its own university.<\/p>\n 2. Ukiah<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 17 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: sales, admin, food service<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> Surrounded by beautiful nature and with plentiful biking and walking initiatives, 67% of Ukians boast that their commute time is under 15 minutes! That’s a good reason to celebrate by having a drink at one of Ukiah’s many wineries or breweries.<\/p>\n 1. San Luis Obispo<\/b><\/p>\n Commute time: 16.8 minutes<\/b><\/p>\n Major Industries<\/b>: admin, food service, sales<\/p>\n You should live there because:<\/b> Aside from being breathtakingly beautiful, San Luis Obispo has been called “the happiest city in America.” Great transit, a thriving culture from the local university and a renowned beachfront contribute to this namesake – not to mention that almost nonexistent commute time.<\/p>\n Of course, we’re just scratching the surface. The Golden State is filled with so many great cities, so you’re bound to find one that matches your career, interests and desired commute time.<\/p>\n Vannya Kristich is director of product management at Esurance, overseeing profit and growth of personal lines insurance<\/a> products for the western region of the U.S., including California.\u00a0 Vannya has over 17 years of industry experience, holding product management roles for several major insurance carriers.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Realtytimes <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"