I live in a city about the size of Helena but less geographically remote. There is a good private university but not much of a professional tech community. As

I live in a city about the size of Helena but less geographically remote. There is a good private university but not much of a professional tech community. As a sysadmin by trade, trying to pivot into software development/engineering, I wonder if I should study and work in a 'hub' city (like the Bay Area) with lots of bright and eager minds, or somewhere with cheap rent and few distractions (like Helena) so it's easier to tune out the world and hit the books/code.