[x]

Wages are lower, prices of houses are lower. Why the discrepancy in home ownership? I think it would be settled/sedentary culture as opposed to transient culture.

West Virginia's median home value was $99,000 in September 2019.

California's was $550,800.

The income that would buy you a house in West Virginia would only get you a little more than a fifth of a house in California.

Land costs more in California than in West Virginia and there are more restrictions on building.

A California would counter the "settled culture" argument by pointing out that more people have wanted to live in California than in West Virginia.

[dakine]

Personally, I make $200k+ in D.C./B-more area, if I could get paid $90k+ in Michigan? Wife and I would be gone tomorrow..