In order to make the large dollars (middle income wise) you need good training or education (or experience, but that doesn't typically apply for <30). This educ

In order to make the large dollars (middle income wise) you need good training or education (or experience, but that doesn't typically apply for <30). This education gives skills that typically require living in populated areas because businesses (especially large businesses) want to be near large population of potential employees. So the typical employment force has their education benefit offset by the cost of living increase, putting them in just as bad a situation as living in the middle of no where making low wages (or perhaps worse, since they went into debt for training). Meanwhile, if your in the top 10% -- a business owner or top management -- most of this doesn't matter because you make enough to take $15/trip HOV Lanes, or buy a $800,000+ home easily. So you want to keep your business near top talent (i.e. cities) but are less impacted by the situation you are encouraging by flocking the business to the city in the first place. This is super complex, but just my quick-ish generalization... There are lots of factors.