I mean, you could also reach something like Tokyo as well, which is pretty desirable for a lot of people.

Fun fact: SF has a higher population density (18k/sqmi) than either HK (17.5k/sqmi) or Tokyo (16.5k/sqmi). Mind blown?

Truth is, density is super nonuniform — when people fear “Tokyo” they just don’t want to live in Shibuya or Ginza, not the leafy outer suburbs that are still part of Tokyo metropolis, and are quite nice.

With the exception of Manhattan (70k/sqmi), probably all the USA could double in density — enough to support another 70 years of population growth — with minimal effect on neighborhoods. This is one story-houses in inner suburbs becoming duplexes, two-stories going to 4, etc. over the span of 70 years. You’d barely notice the change.

Instead, we’ve decided to engage in the largest-ever wealth transfer from younger, poorer Americans to older, wealthier Americans the country has ever seen.