[OldDeckHand]

"and the homes around his looks like a shantytown in comparison!"

I understand your point, and I agree - his place looks out of place relative to the surrounding structures. But, I'm kind of surprised how suburban it all looks. Granted, I have never been to Pakistan, but I have been to Iraq and this place looks exponentially more accommodating than even the most "swanky" areas surrounding Baghdad.

By the number of athletic tracks, there seems to be pretty dense concentration of schools - both secondary and collegiate. There's even a golf course less than a mile away. It's all remarkably "western".

[Tex-Con-Man]

I saw the google satellite pictures of the area.

Who knew Osama was a suburban soccer dad?

[Berlin_Freeper]

and there is this about the place...

Bin Laden's Villa Lacked Internet, Phone Service
The absence of Internet and telephone service at Osama bin Laden's $1 million hiding place helped tip off intelligence experts that the Al Qaeda leader was indeed there.

[justlurking]

By the number of athletic tracks, there seems to be pretty dense concentration of schools - both secondary and collegiate. There's even a golf course less than a mile away. It's all remarkably "western".

I read that this town was a popular place for military officers to retire.