[nus07]

You do have similar folks in rural Oregon or rural Idaho too . Have you been to Klamath Falls, OR ? If you do have to compare you would probably make a direct comparison to say Athens, GA or Research Triangle, NC . IMO this country already has a huge divide between rural and urban populations no matter which state you are in. Educated college towns are the hidden gems for anyone looking to escape 1m dollar Bay Area houses.

[ryandrake]

OP's rules of thumb are pretty broadly applicable in a great many rural, small-town regions of the USA. If you're politically progressive, you can still pass as a local and blend in if you adopt a few mannerisms and if you're willing to ignore/dodge a lot of questionable conversation material. The only thing you can't really fake is your skin color.