Or even better than just increasing salaries.. Let people work remote. Then people who want to live in the big city can (without the commute, which is a plus!)

Or even better than just increasing salaries.. Let people work remote. Then people who want to live in the big city can (without the commute, which is a plus!) and people that want to live in the small town can, plus everyone in between. What part of being a programmer means they 'need' to be in the office in that town?