Two reasons - at least on the West coast, building codes incorporate earthquake survivability of the occupants, inexpensive solid walls collapse easily in earth

Two reasons - at least on the West coast, building codes incorporate earthquake survivability of the occupants, inexpensive solid walls collapse easily in earthquakes, 2. speed and cost of construction and availability of labor for woodframe housing and even multistory apartment buildings across the USA. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-02-13/why-america-s-new-apartment-buildings-all-look-the-same https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-02-13/why-ameri...