[amatxn]

Wholeheartedly agree about the urbanization trend, but if you look at that data, that whole section of the Plains states and central US that is 'Doing Better' is in large part rural. My county is 'Randall' in the Texas panhandle, we rank 133 on the list. The metropolitan area (if you call it that) is > 250K. My wife and I are highly educated and we live well above the county and national median income level. Quality of life is good and cost of living is low. I'd say some rural areas are doing things right, the oil boom has a lot to do with that.