Yes, I agree that driving to work really sucks (especially through working class neighbourhoods ;-)

Fortunately, I have never had to commute any distance through working class neighbourhoods!

In the days when I did most of my commuting it was through the rural and upper class Cheshire. Home to the wealthy and the landed. But when the main thought is about getting to work and the possible tribulations of the day ahead, the scenic beauty and surrounding affluence are overlooked.

In my younger days, I'd get the job first, then rent nearby, close enough to walk to work

I worked as a contractor in (definitely not working class) Farnborough and lived for the week in a grotty room above the town's worst pub. Thankfully the contract was not for too long. On the site I where I worked, another contractor had his caravan parked on the carpark close enough to the building to get electricity. I thought that was a great plan and intended to copy the idea for my next contract but that was close enough to home to commute in less than 30 minutes.