Cities are often the cultural and economic centers of their respective regions. For example, I live in Long Island and I'd say about 80% of the local service economy work in Manhattan. There's a lot of things to do in the city so naturally, a lot of people flock there. Hell, if I'm able to get in cozy with the Bronx Zoo, I'll probably end up getting a little studio there. There's also the fact that everything's so close together, which equates to convenience.
However, cities are really expensive and, IIRC, NY is seeing lots of residents move out. Thanks to the real estate market and other economic elements, cities are becoming more and more expensive. Especially with the advent of remote work, you could touch base with an office in NYC while in a cheaper, rural home upstate, meaning that you don't have to live close to your job. Obviously this doesn't work for everything but you get the idea. I'm not an economist so I'm sure there are good readings out there.
If you are leaving paycheck to paycheck, and have not chance of ascension, I really don't get it why to live in a city. Violence, crowds, neurosis and high cost of rent and high cost of living. And in America there are state tax.
I don't care that my small town does not have "cultural center" like a modern art museum. I actually enjoy it does not have.
I don't care that Justin Bieber or any of these artists never came here. I actually enjoy that they don't come here. I like my own local band traditional music.
I don't care if my small town does not have a restaurant serving culturally enriched Vanuatu food. I enjoy my traditional dishes.
I open my door, go for hiking, I see little to no pollution, I see the mountain, thats where I want my ashes after I die, I can see Gaia, my mother, who will punish us for all we are doing.
I live with my own kind, with my own people, who share the same values as me.
I will never become the CEO of a multinational company in my small town, but in a big city my chances were also close to zero. And working 15 hours a day is not fun at all.
Burn, "cultural and economic centers", burn. It's being fun to watch.