That's not my experience at all, even here in the DC area. Houses far from work still cost a lot, what's different is the cost per square foot. The problem is that those people aren't willing to live in a smaller dwelling, or a non-single-family home. Then they whine about there not being any "affordable housing" because they can't afford a free-standing house with a giant lawn right in the middle of (or close to) the city. There is affordable housing, but it means they need to settle for a condo or townhouse.