I have no idea what makes you draw that conclusion. It's the people and the character of a town that creates a town's energy, not the presence (or absence) of commercial real estate.
You probably just haven't bloomed yet. Expand your experiences and your travels, and you will find many wonderful places across the fruited plain, and around the world.
Also consider St Louis, New Orleans, San Diego as charming places. Lots of towns have personality, notwithstanding the presence of strip malls.
Imagine all the tourist dollars lost because of the towns reputation ?