This is a romantic view that ignores that many, if not most, small towns in the rural US are dying.

I'm from Missouri and I can tell you that most of the small towns are not idyllic rural paradises. They are farming towns which now have no purpose, no young people, and serious drug and suicide problems. These are not all friendly places.

They would all KILL to have an influx of young energetic people move in. They want to see the town survive.