8,000 in DFW holds a line as 320 CA. 737 CA is reserve.

So the OP can see the choices of choosing reserve vs a line, or commuting vs not commuting. As a commuter he wouldn’t want to be a CA in DFW at 8,000. Maybe PHL, MIA or LGA. As a commuter w/b the difference for an international long haul flight (real example) is -
Commuter - leave at 0900, home at 2245
Local guy - leave at 1400, home at 1830.

That’s five rds of golf, tennis matches, mowing, and five dinners per month spent commuting. Leaving in your ideal town has value but it has a physical and financial cost.