Oct 22, 2026 · By Oanh Nguyen · Broker & Loan Officer · Living Here
Commute time is one of the top things my buyers weigh. For many people, it matters as much as the home itself. A long, stressful commute can wear on you every single day.
The cities I serve sit between Silicon Valley and the inner East Bay. San Jose and Milpitas are in the South Bay. Fremont, Hayward, San Leandro, Castro Valley and Pleasanton are in the East Bay. That location gives you options: BART, freeways, or a mix of both.
In this post, I will share what the public data shows about commute times, list the BART stations and main freeways in each area, and explain how I help buyers test a commute before they buy.
Average Commute Time by City
The U.S. Census Bureau measures average travel time to work through the American Community Survey. These are 5-year averages for 2020 to 2024.
| City | Average travel time to work |
|---|---|
| Milpitas | 25.8 minutes |
| San Jose | 27.3 minutes |
| Fremont | 30.3 minutes |
| San Leandro | 31.2 minutes |
| Hayward | 32.3 minutes |
| Castro Valley | 32.7 minutes |
| Pleasanton | 34.3 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Workers age 16 and older.
For context, the Census reports an average of 26.2 minutes for Santa Clara County as a whole over the same period.
How to Read These Numbers
These averages are helpful, but they have limits.
They are one-way averages. Each number is the average trip to work, one way. Your round trip is about double.
They include everyone. People who live close to work and people who travel far are mixed together. People who drive, ride transit, bike and walk are all included.
They cover 2020 to 2024. That period includes years when many people worked from home or had different schedules. Commute patterns may look different today.
They don't know your job. The number that matters most is the trip from a specific home to your specific workplace, at the time you travel.
So use these averages to get a feel for each city. Then test your own route.
BART Stations In and Near These Cities
BART connects much of the East Bay with Oakland, San Francisco and North San Jose. BART lists these stations in the cities I serve or right next to them:
- San Jose: Berryessa/North San Jose
- Milpitas: Milpitas
- Fremont: Fremont, Warm Springs/South Fremont
- Union City (next to Fremont and Hayward): Union City
- Hayward: Hayward, South Hayward
- San Leandro area: San Leandro, Bay Fair
- Castro Valley: Castro Valley
- Pleasanton / Dublin: West Dublin/Pleasanton, Dublin/Pleasanton
Source: BART station list, accessed October 26, 2026.
If you plan to ride BART, check bart.gov for current schedules, fares and parking. Station parking can be limited at busy times. Also think about how you will get to the station: drive, bike, walk, bus or drop-off.
Main Freeways
These are the main freeway corridors buyers ask me about:
- I-880 runs along the bay side, from San Jose through Milpitas, Fremont, Hayward and San Leandro.
- I-680 runs from San Jose through east Fremont and Sunol into Pleasanton.
- I-580 connects Castro Valley, Dublin and Pleasanton.
- Hwy 237 links Milpitas with the North San Jose and Sunnyvale area.
- Hwy 85, Hwy 87 and US-101 serve South San Jose.
Traffic on each one changes by direction, time of day and day of the week. A drive that takes a short time on a Sunday can take much longer on a weekday morning.
Other Ways to Get Around
BART and freeways are not the only options. Depending on where you live and work, you might also look at:
- Local bus and light rail. VTA serves Santa Clara County. AC Transit serves much of western Alameda County. Wheels (LAVTA) serves the Tri-Valley, including Pleasanton.
- Regional rail. ACE trains stop in Fremont and Pleasanton. Capitol Corridor trains stop in San Jose, Fremont and Hayward. Check each line's schedule, since service can be limited.
- Employer shuttles. Some employers run shuttles from certain pickup points.
- Biking. Some areas have bike lanes and trails that connect to transit.
- Hybrid schedules. If you work from home some days, a longer trip on the other days may be fine for you.
The 511.org trip planner can help you compare these options for your own route.
A Quick Look, City by City
Here is a summary of the public data and main routes for each city I serve.
San Jose (95112, 95118, 95119, 95121, 95122, 95123, 95127, 95136, 95148). Average travel time to work: 27.3 minutes. BART: Berryessa/North San Jose. Main freeways include US-101, I-280, I-680, I-880, Hwy 85 and Hwy 87. VTA light rail and buses serve much of the city. San Jose is large, so trips vary a lot by neighborhood.
Milpitas (95035). Average travel time to work: 25.8 minutes. BART: Milpitas station, which also connects with VTA light rail. Freeways: I-880, I-680 and Hwy 237.
Fremont (94538, 94555). Average travel time to work: 30.3 minutes. BART: Fremont and Warm Springs/South Fremont. Freeways: I-880 and I-680, with Hwy 84 to the Dumbarton Bridge.
Hayward (94544, 94545). Average travel time to work: 32.3 minutes. BART: Hayward and South Hayward. Freeways: I-880 and I-580, with Hwy 92 to the San Mateo Bridge.
San Leandro (94578). Average travel time to work: 31.2 minutes. BART: San Leandro and Bay Fair. Freeways: I-880 and I-580.
Castro Valley (94546, 94552). Average travel time to work: 32.7 minutes. BART: Castro Valley. Freeway: I-580.
Pleasanton (94566, 94588). Average travel time to work: 34.3 minutes. BART: West Dublin/Pleasanton and Dublin/Pleasanton. Freeways: I-580 and I-680.
Travel time figures: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024.
How I Help Buyers Test a Commute
Before you write an offer, I ask buyers to test the commute for real. Here is the process.
- Drive it or ride it at your real time. Do it on a weekday, at the hour you would leave.
- Try the trip both ways. The evening commute is often different from the morning.
- Use the Bay Area's official trip planner. 511.org shows traffic, transit and trip options.
- Check your employer's commute benefits. Some offer shuttles, transit passes or parking help. Ask HR what applies to you.
- Think about everyone in the household. Partners, kids and other family members may have their own trips.
- Look at your weekly routine. Daycare, school drop-off, the gym, groceries and family visits all add up.
- Try a rainy day if you can. Weather can change a commute a lot.
Questions to Ask Yourself
A commute is personal. These questions can help you figure out what you can live with.
- How many days a week will you travel to work?
- What is the longest trip you are willing to make each way?
- Do you prefer to drive, or would you rather read or rest on a train?
- Would a shorter commute be worth a smaller home or a different home type?
- How might your job, or your partner's job, change in the next few years?
There is no right answer. Some buyers trade a longer commute for more space. Others trade space for time. Both are fair choices.
Commute and Home Search: Putting It Together
When I set up a home search, I start with the trips that matter most to you. Then I look at every area and home type that fits those trips and your budget.
This often opens up options buyers had not considered. A home in a city you didn't expect may have a shorter trip to work than one closer on the map. A home near a BART station may fit your routine better than one near a freeway, or the other way around.
I show you the facts for every area that fits. You decide where you want to live.
A Hypothetical Example
This example is made up to show the process. It is not based on any real client.
A buyer works in North San Jose three days a week. They look at homes in two cities.
For the first home, they drive the route at 7:30 a.m. on a Tuesday and again at 5:30 p.m. For the second home, they try BART from the nearest station, plus a short bus ride.
They time both trips door to door and compare. The numbers surprise them. They choose the home whose commute fits their routine best, and they feel confident in the choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city I serve has the shortest average commute?
Among the cities I serve, Milpitas had the shortest average travel time to work in the Census data for 2020–2024, at 25.8 minutes. San Jose was next at 27.3 minutes. Your own trip depends on where you work and when you travel.
Which cities have BART stations?
BART lists stations in North San Jose, Milpitas, Fremont, Union City, Hayward, the San Leandro area, Castro Valley and the Dublin/Pleasanton area.
Is BART faster than driving?
It depends on your route, the time of day and how you get to and from the stations. Try both before you decide.
How can I check traffic on my route?
Use 511.org, the Bay Area's official traveler information site. Then test the trip yourself at the times you would travel.
Do these commute times include people who work from home?
The Census figure is the average travel time for workers who commute. The period includes years with a lot of remote work, so patterns may look different today.
What if I work on the Peninsula?
From the East Bay, two bridges cross to the Peninsula near the cities I serve: the Dumbarton Bridge (Hwy 84) from Fremont and the San Mateo Bridge (Hwy 92) from Hayward. From San Jose and Milpitas, US-101 and I-280 run up the Peninsula. Test your route at rush hour before you decide.
Will living near BART raise a home's value?
I don't make claims about how a commute or transit will affect a home's future value. I help you find a home that works for your life today, using recent comparable sales to understand price.
Can you help me find homes near a specific workplace?
Yes. Tell me where you work and how you like to travel. I will set up a search across every area that fits.
The Bottom Line
The cities I serve offer a mix of BART, freeways and local transit. Average commute times in the Census data ranged from about 26 to 34 minutes one way between 2020 and 2024. But your commute is personal.
A great house with a commute you dread may not be a great house for you. Test the trip at the times you will travel, in both directions, before you write an offer. Think about everyone in your household and your full weekly routine.
I don't make claims about how a commute will affect a home's future value. I focus on helping you find a home that works for your life today.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, "Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+," 2020–2024 (accessed October 26, 2026): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanjosecitycalifornia,santaclaracountycalifornia/PST045222 · https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/milpitascitycalifornia/PST045222 · https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fremontcitycalifornia/PST045222 · https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/haywardcitycalifornia/PST045222 · https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sanleandrocitycalifornia/PST045222 · https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/castrovalleycdpcalifornia/PST045222 · https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pleasantoncitycalifornia/PST045222
- BART, Stations (accessed October 26, 2026): https://www.bart.gov/stations
- 511 SF Bay (Metropolitan Transportation Commission): https://511.org/
Want help testing a commute from a home you like? Call or text me at 408-780-1188, or email onrealtygroup@gmail.com.
Oanh Nguyen · Broker & Loan Officer · On Realty Group, brokered by LPT Realty · BRE #02133991 · NMLS 2020335
Equal Housing Opportunity.
Disclaimer: This post is general information only; commute times vary by route, time and conditions, and the data comes from the public sources linked above.