If your a young childless single that 300sf will do for a year or two.

If you can afford the close in “suburb” that’s great, most cant, so they move out a little further until the jobs come to them, then they are the new close in suburb.

rinse and repeat

Put it this way, If you have a Kid, the last place you want to raise them is anywhere close to downtown.
You are looking for a place filled with soccer moms.

Most people will have kids, step kids, adopted kids or even grand kids living at home at some point in their lives.

Very Few never have kids they are responsible for.