I disagree with both of you, bg and sdr. You are focusing on comps too much. It has more to do with the buyers.
A buyer needs to decide what something is worth to them. And this is a full spectrum of fields from location and schools to home construction and lot size. But it all boils down to the simple question, is this house worth $XXXXX more than that one? If the cheaper neighborhoods get cheaper it makes the expensive neighborhoods look more expensive and thus not as worth the premium they command in turn driving down prices.