American cities are paying too much for sprawling housing
American cities are facing challenges related to housing development, particularly the costs associated with sprawling neighborhoods. A recent report highlights that compact neighborhoods are significantly cheaper to maintain than those on the urban fringe. This raises questions about the future of housing policy and the need for a shift towards more efficient urban planning.
- ▪Compact neighborhoods cost cities about half as much to maintain compared to sprawling developments.
- ▪Building homes within existing communities can reduce upfront infrastructure expenses by approximately $21,000 per home.
- ▪Ongoing maintenance costs for infrastructure are about 50 percent lower for homes built in established areas.
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Future PerfectAmerican cities are paying too much for sprawling housing Compact neighborhoods cost cities half as much to maintain. So why don’t we build more of them?by Marina BolotnikovaJun 3, 2026, 12:30 PM UTCShareGiftHomes in Lancaster, California. Sam Lafoca/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty ImagesMarina Bolotnikova is a senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect section. She covers housing, transportation, and cities, factory farming and animal rights, meta-science, the future of food and agriculture, and more.The housing abundance movement has won more of the intellectual argument than anyone might have predicted a decade ago.
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