One of many problems for American Right: Quality of life, on the whole, is still far better in coastal blue metros than anywhere else. Are these expensive? Yes. But they’re expensive for a reason. Traditional conservative policies for the most part don’t actually make life better for most people. Life in Texas is cheaper than California but it’s basically worse by every other metric, etc. American hinterland completely burned out and borderline unlivable pretty much everywhere, with the exception of maybe a few tourist towns. If you’re single, you’re better off in a major blue metro; if you have a family, the suburbs of one.