The lifestyle inflation that has happened over the past 30-50 years is under appreciated. I had an upper middle class upbringing (two parents with graduate degrees, my mom stayed home for much of my childhood). My brother and I grew up in a 1,100 square foot house. I have a much smaller house than I could afford, and it’s still almost 4,000 square feet. 2,500 square feet seems to be table stakes outside the city.