At least the mortgage is less for your commute.
This guy chose an area that is no more or less safe than the common development that most choose to live in which is 20 minutes and about 10 miles. The closer houses are slightly smaller on average (though you can find larger ones), but are also cheaper. Where he lives the schools are rated "6" and the closer place the schools are "9" and "8" out of 10.
He said he thinks 40 minutes is no big deal.
Is your 38 miles total or one way?
One way. Only all that you said (larger house, better schools etc) is reversed so that we have those benefits here while many jobs are there. It's still a major trade off. I don't like how late i get home.