The airline picks you, you don't pick them. You really hope your top choice chooses you but I doubt most get hired by their first choice. Then you pick a domicile, at the airline that hires you, or make the decision to commute.
And keep applying to #1 if 'not #1' hires you. A bunch of guys get additional calls after getting their first job. It's like the various hiring models seem to like the same candidates at times.
The biggest bases tend to be senior. Typically has all the flying, especially the best flying. But driving to work, even at a senior base, is a huge QWL event.