I think if you asked boomers and neocon pre-boomers if a 30 year man in an average sized town with a salary of 100k could afford a house he likes, a decent car, and a stay at home wife, at least 95% of them would say of course he can.
That’s the issue. They are stuck in 1985 with their understanding of incomes and costs and they can’t be convinced otherwise.
It’s like they permanently locked their brains as the world was when they signed for the $400 mortgage payment.