Its not just about the yard though. There are many other factors to it. It is a balance of a lot of things. Schools, safety, privacy, space, cost of living, ability to save for their future, ability to save for retirement, pollution, and plenty more factors.

If I can either spend $3000 a month on a for a tiny two bedroom apartment 30 minutes from work. Or spend half that and get a bigger house with a yard, and have to commute an extra hour. You bet I am going to take that extra commute. There is less pollution, less noise, and just as good an education system. And that is $18,000 a year that can be spent on family vacations, college, or retirement.

Then again I am a second generation commuter, and that is just how life is to me. So maybe I have it wrong.