[kiklion]

I would be cautious how much of your frustration is because of the US changing or not meeting your expectations vs you happening to make major life decision right when there happened to be major world changing events. (Covid, Russia/Ukraine primarily.)

Since you aren’t in your old life anymore, you don’t know exactly how good or bad it would have been had you stayed.

Moving on beyond that, some places are definitely worse off than others within the US. Housing where I live is getting more expensive, but incomes are also going up substantially. And they are building thousands of new housing.

You mention being a top 5% earner. Unless that is top 5% locally, you are probably using up a lot of that top 5% income to live in a top 1% location.

[angarg12]

According to the stats, we make top 5% income of our area. It sure doesn't feel like it. Makes me wonder how people in much lower income who hasn't inherited their home can make ends meet here (the answer is probably not very well).

Regarding your first point, you are right, you can't A/B test your life. In any event I'm reporting my current experience, which is both not better than my previous and expected one.

[kryogen1c]

>> Buying a home? Give me a break

> According to the stats, we make top 5% income of our area

Well one of those two things isnt true. It's not possible to be 95%ile income and not afford a house.