I didn’t mean to say smarter, I guess I was just looking for the right word. But you’re right, it’s a matter of preference. I agree for those who work in Menifee, it would make perfect sense to live there. No point in commuting from SD to Menifee. There are golf courses in SD as well. But you’re right, it’s much more expensive here. What I’m trying to say is that it’s more than just the price of the house when you’re comparing the two cities and you work in SD. You would have to count in the cost of gas, the cost of your car dying more quickly, the cost of the time you sit in traffic (time is money).

I don’t think people are forced to move because of economical reasons. I think they chose to move because they want a bigger house. Which is a personal preference rather than economics. You can find a smaller house for $460k here as well.