Great article. Two things to add from someone who grew up in the US in single family homes until after University. Since then I've lived in apartments/condos.

1) Infrastructure, not just community. There is no comparison between virtually non-exisistent US public transport and Europe, but living in a house in Europe would mean, as in the US, you have to drive most a lot to shop. We have 4 medium size (for Europe) and 5 small grocery stores, dry cleaning, 2 drug stores, 2 pharmacies, 3 or 4 barbers, 2 banks, a post office, etc. all within 500 meters of our flat. That saves an unbelievable amount of time, money and stress every week.

2) There are other kinds of flats than small single floor flats. The last 15 years we live in a two story, 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath flat with about 1500 ft2 and a yard on the ground floor of the same size. It is like having a house in the city, but we don't have to worry about the roof, driveway, most of the parking garage, or even hot water, as that is all shared by the 10 owners.

Of course we don't always get along with everyone in the building, and the thought of not having to ask or think about other people is nice. Sometimes. But the benefits outweigh the costs for us.