🚗 What’s the Average Commute in HOUSTON? 🚦 (From a New Aggie Grad’s Perspective)
Howdy y’all 🤠,
Coming fresh out of College Station and stepping into Houston life has been one wild ride—literally. As a new Aggie grad, one of the first lessons I learned wasn’t from a professor or a manager at my new job…it was from Houston traffic.
When you’re moving to a new city, you don’t really think about how much of your life will be spent behind the wheel until it smacks you in the face (or you’re stuck on I-10 staring at brake lights). So let’s talk about it:
📊 The Reality of Houston Commutes
Houston’s a massive city, and with that comes some of the longest commutes in Texas. On average, Houstonians spend around 30–35 minutes each way getting to work. That means more than an hour of your day is gone before you’ve even had dinner or hit the gym.
But here’s the kicker—it’s not just the distance, it’s the unpredictability. One day you’re smooth sailing down 59, and the next day you’re crawling along for 20 minutes because someone sneezed on the freeway.
🌆 Location, Location, Location
As a new grad, you’re probably weighing two big things when choosing where to live: affordability and commute time.
Live close to work → Higher rent, smaller space, but more time for yourself.
Live farther out → Cheaper rent, bigger apartment, but you’ll sacrifice time on the road.
A lot of new grads (myself included) think, “Oh, I don’t mind driving a little!” But after a few weeks of sitting in traffic while your friends are already hanging out or working out, you’ll rethink that fast.
🚦 Tips I Wish Someone Told Me
Test drive your commute before you sign that lease. That “20 minutes on Google Maps” at 11 PM is actually 45 minutes at 8 AM.
Look for apartments near major highways (but not right on top of them—hello, noise). Easy access to I-10, 610, 59, or Beltway 8 can make or break your sanity.
Consider hybrid work flexibility—if your new job lets you WFH even a couple of days, you can stretch your apartment search a bit farther.
Factor gas and tolls into your budget. Houston commutes aren’t just a time suck—they’ll hit your wallet too.
🤔 My Aggie Takeaway
As a new Aggie in Houston, I’ve realized your commute is basically part of your lifestyle. It impacts your mood, your health, and even your friendships. That’s why I chose to pay a little more to live closer to work and cut down my daily drive.
Bottom line: In Houston, your commute isn’t just about getting from Point A to Point B. It’s about building the kind of life you want after graduation.
👉 Fellow Houston Aggies, what’s your commute like? Would you rather save money and drive, or spend more on rent and gain back your time?
#AggieGrad #HoustonLife #TrafficTruths
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