The weird part about the rent/own/house/apartment debate is that most families seem to consider their own fenced-off half acre as a right akin to freedom to pursue happiness, hence suburban sprawl. I think the real answer is somewhere in between sprawl and total anthills in the middle of a huge parkland. Fenced-off gardens and lawns on roofs would be perfect, since your kids can play in a protected space or when they grow up, you can take them out to the undeveloped parkland saved from turning into backyard. I wouldn't raise kids in an apartment just to prove a point, but indoor spaces can be just as productive and stimulating as long as there's the occasional trip to the beach or the mountains. On bikes.