Rachel Everett, a nurse, has been commuting from Patterson to Fremont every workday since 2008. After she and her husband, both born and raised in the Bay Area, lost their home to fire, they decided to move to Patterson for more affordable housing.
Because her salary is more competitive in Fremont, she decided to brave a two-hour commute — sometimes with an infant riding with her to the daycare at her workplace.
“Oh my goodness,” Everett said. “Me trying to drive and get us home and having her cry or be upset about something, that was a high stress level for me.”…