I live in the central part.... and have just over 5000 acres of public land within 5 miles of my house.... I have never been with out work.. and the cost of living has always been cheap enough to save money after the bills have been paid... land has been priced within reach of the normal guy... I always have enough money at the end of the day to take at least one trip out west to hunt elk or deer, and some years, two trips, one to Ontario and the other out west.
The only down side ? You can't sell out and move away... houses every where else are 2-3 times the cost of houses here...
I can see no reason to move where the houses are that much more. Jobs may pay more, but costs eat up the difference. And you're still stuck in a mess. Just more driving and bullshit to deal with.
