Eh looking just at those numbers maybe, I'm kind of in an odd area the most direct way is via mostly slow residential streets. If I swing wide to the longer highway route it's 2 minutes faster but further (11 miles ~18 minutes) and more annoying dealing with traffic (where I merge onto 40 I have to get over 4 lanes in a short time) so I usually take the slower but more pleasant route.

It was far worse at my old apartment 5 miles in 11 minutes became 50 minutes if I took the bus.

I'm in RTP which is far from moribund but Durham where I live is getting the least new residents it seems.