Three county cities make the top 40 for best commuter cities in California; Monterey cracks the top 10.

In a recent set of rankings based on 2013 U.S. census data, Monterey was named the eighth best commuter city in California with an average commute time of 17.3 minutes. Pacific Grove came in at number 25 (20.8 mins), and Seaside, 35 (21.9 mins). 

The list—which was put out by insurance website Obrella.com and based on cities with a population of 10,000 or greater—includes the top 40 best commuter cities in the state based on commute times, and starts with a host of reasons why short commutes are better for our insurance premiums, and health.

They include bits like:

"A study conducted in Sweden reveals that a marriage is 40 percent more likely to end in divorce when one partner endures a daily commute longer than 45 minutes."

And:

"Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Long Beach discovered that no other factor had a stronger correlation with obesity than the number of miles driven every day."

Susanville, where 27 percent of the men work in law enforcement (a prison is located just out of town), topped the list with 15.6 minutes, which is only a 100 seconds better than Monterey. 

Of Monterey, Obrella's Alexia Chianis writes: "Monterey is known for its rugged coastline, rich history and flourishing art community."

Other Monterey stats: commutes alone (59.44 percent); carpools (10.44 percent); mass transit (2.39 percent); works at home (3.74 percent).

On Pacific Grove, Chianis is more on the mark (Monterey's "flourishing" arts community?):

"Charming, scenic and coastal, you’ll have a hard time finding another Golden State city as ideal as Pacific Grove," she writes. "Whether you settle in one of Pacific Grove’s famed grand Victorians or in a petit bungalow, this seaside sanctuary has a lot to offer."

No mention, however, of fog. 

P.G stats: commutes alone (75.41 percent); carpools (9.18 percent); mass transit (1.65 percent); works at home (6.56 percent). 

As one who both lives and works in Seaside, Chianis' words about that city seem cribbed from a city PR spokesperson. Except for the first line:

"Seaside is located just a few miles northeast of the magical city of Monterey."

Then:

"From golf courses to conference facilities, new residential developments to commercial districts, Seaside is booming."

On Fourth of July, perhaps.