I commuted from Rocklin to Beale for 13 years.
Now that the bypass is built, it is not too bad. With a hands-free device and/or podcasts, you can be productive during that time.
There's a reason the houses cost more in Rocklin: it's a great town. https://www.kcra.com/news/rocklin-named-best-ca-city-for-young-families/30574384
Rocklin High School was ranked the #1 school in the greater Sacramento area. And while you don't have kids, you should understand that it reflects significantly on the town. Low crime, white collar.
Lincoln will save you 5-15 minutes on your commute, depending which part of Lincoln. If you have an airplane or like to skydive, Lincoln Airport has houses near it, and they have easy access to the Highway 65 bypass.