Pretty much everyone that lives in a gated community has monthly community fees to pay every month,
which range as high as over $1000 here in Miami. The usual monthly is in the $200-400 range.
If you are a doctor, lawyer, engineer, business owner, etc...making $300 an hour...$200-$400 a month is about an hour of pay.
An hour of pay per month many would find well worth the security a gated community provides.
You can pretend gated equates to "paranoia" but if given the choice most families raising children,
the elderly, pretty much most demographics would choose gated if they could.
Same thing with apartments that have secured resident only gates.
Most people want the extra layer of protection these days.
Paranoia can be pricey.
"Pricey" is relative and also in the eye of the beholder.
Non-paranoia can be pricey too!
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/2-Adults-Killed-in-Home-With-5-Children-Present-During-Burglary-Near-Tampa-Police-312847111.html