[LeifCarrotson]

> People can’t afford to move out

Why not? There are good-paying jobs in financially functional towns and cities reasonably close by. The people who grow up in those towns can afford to live there.

Sure, they're not going to be able to upsize without a mortgage by selling the 1400 sqft 100-year-old house on a lot in a decaying ghost town. But most people don't start out with an already-paid-for home.

[ticviking]

Because very few companies offer relocation. Living on welfare in a paid for trailer on land your ancestors lived on is much more appealing than moving without relocation for worse lifestyle in a rental in low wage work that will result in a lower effective income in a higher cost of living area.

People are often dumb, but they're not insane and over years they do respond to incentives.