Numerous studies have identified the determinants of happiness. However, the literature provides scant evidence on the potential nonlinear relationships between built environment (BE) and commuting duration and happiness. Using survey data of 7837 respondents from 327 Chinese communities, this study applies a gradient boosting decision tree method to investigate the nonlinear relationships of BE and commuting duration with happiness, and how the nonlinear patterns of commuting duration vary across modes. The results suggest that compared with commuting duration (6.71%) and specific BE characteristics (ranging between 4.77% and 8.86%), household income has the largest relative contribution (14.57%). All BE characteristics show a nonlinear relationship with happiness. The commuting duration shows nonlinear relationships with happiness, and the nonlinear patterns vary across commuting modes. These findings identify effective the range of BE and commuting duration in affecting happiness. Therefore, transport practitioners and urban planners should deliberate on land use and transportation policies to promote happiness.

许多研究已经确定了幸福的决定因素。然而，关于建筑环境（BE）与通勤时间和幸福感之间潜在的非线性关系，文献提供的证据很少。本研究利用来自 327 个华人社区的 7837 名受访者的调查数据，应用梯度提升决策树方法来研究 BE 和通勤时长与幸福感的非线性关系，以及通勤时长的非线性模式如何随模式变化。结果表明，与通勤时间（6.71%）和特定 BE 特征（介于 4.77% 和 8.86% 之间）相比，家庭收入的相对贡献最大（14.57%）。所有 BE 特征都显示出与幸福的非线性关系。通勤时间与幸福感呈非线性关系，并且非线性模式因通勤模式而异。这些发现确定了有效影响幸福感的 BE 范围和通勤时间。因此，交通从业者和城市规划者应该仔细研究土地使用和交通政策，以促进幸福。