"We were constantly looking for a place that was affordable but within commuting distance, " she said.

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All three are close to a larger city and are within commuting distance of a university or major research institution.

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Applicants must have tried to find a place to rent within a "reasonable commuting distance" to their old neighborhoods and place of work.

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And developers have simply run out of new places to build that are within a reasonable commuting distance of Silicon Valley or San Francisco.

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In the last year or so, the high end of the suburban market was unusually strong in wealthy neighborhoods within easy commuting distance of Manhattan.

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Despite all the complaints, average commuting time remained stable through the 1990s, but the average distance travelled grew.

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The new site is in walking distance to almost nothing, a nice spot if you happen to be commuting from the East Bay, but otherwise a fairly isolated location in terms of services and transportation options.

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