Why is housing so expensive in so many cities?

What's emerging

There is strong, cross-cutting consensus that housing affordability is a genuine and urgent problem requiring action. Beyond that shared concern, however, respondents are sharply divided on nearly every proposed cause and solution: supply-side arguments (zoning reform, deregulation, building more), demand-side arguments (investors, short-term rentals), and structural arguments (wages and inequality) all face more disagreement than agreement. No single diagnosis or remedy commands broad support, reflecting deep underlying disagreement about what is actually driving high costs.

• Shared Concern About AffordabilityRespondents broadly agree that housing affordability is a serious problem, making this the only area of clear consensus.
• Supply-Side Explanations and SolutionsStatements blaming restrictive zoning or arguing that building more housing would help are contested, with disagreement outweighing agreement.
• Demand-Side and Investor FactorsThe role of investors and short-term rentals as a driver of high costs is disputed, with more respondents disagreeing than agreeing.
• Structural and Inequality-Based ExplanationsFraming the problem as primarily about wages and inequality rather than housing supply also divides respondents, with disagreement dominant.
• Neighborhood Character and Public HousingBoth prioritizing public or social housing and protecting neighborhood character over new development attract more disagreement than support.