Townhomes in Washington, D.C.

More compact growth enables the construction of sturdier buildings in two ways. People living in compact cities are much less dependent on automobiles and all the costs associated with them, and consequently have more money to spend on housing (and could therefore build sturdier houses if they so chose or were required to do so for affordable insurance).

Secondly, where buildings share walls, such as in townhomes, the cost of masonry construction per building is much less, making that kind of construction much more affordable. Masonry construction is inherently much more floodproof than conventional stick-built homes.