The promise of WFH could have reduced this factor for many (most?) office workers. Unfortunately, we're dialing back hugely on that. So we're right back to people clustering in extremely HCOL areas while they're surrounded by ample space and housing.
Nobody wants to commute 3 hours to work. And nobody wants to build an office in the middle of nowhere. The end result is obvious.
Also, Americans as a whole are allergic to affordable housing. A commie block or two could solve this, but we're still making "luxury" two story apartments out of glorified popsicle sticks and vinyl.
People don’t want to be in an empty house in a cheap place, it’s cheap for a reason.