I go with picking a place near where you work. My longest commute has been 80 miles one way (for three months until we could move) and the shortest 1.5 miles. Most have been bicycle or small motorcycle distance, thus saving the cost of a second car and all the gas for the commute. In northern VA I picked a place within walking distance to a metro station. Again saving gas and personal hassle. Look for work close to where you live or live close to where you work is a no brainer.
Now I have taken up the hypermiling techniques just to get around Texas...
