. . to get the same thing at a significantly lower price.
Two decades ago thousands of young couples who just had to have those huge houses with high vaulted ceilings, RVs and all the trimmings built out in Palmdale and Lancaster where they could (almost) afford the property and property taxes. That's 60 miles or more commute to where they worked in Los Angeles.
Today with traffic congestion and high gas prices the area would be crumbling into a ghost town if it weren't for the Metrolink line. Service was expanded and improved after the Northridge earthquake and people figured out how to use it. There's still plenty who drive though. 8-1/2 hours for work and lunch, 4 hours of commute, 8 hours of sleep - that leaves 3-1/2 hours a day for breakfast, supper and life.