The problem with many fleeing big cities to the rural areas is that they recognize, via their pocketbook, that they cannot live comfortably amongst liberalism (unsustainable)but still adhere to liberalism philosophically. They move to more conservative locals and immediately want to make it like the places they left. In fact, they quickly communicate with their liberal support systems and initiate liberal political processes, much to the dismay of locals who have openly invited them to share their lifestyles as good neighbors should. Before you know it, taxes are increased, private property is in danger, liberal organisations dominate the news, organized neighborhood organisations (dominated by politically savy liberals) have rights local individual citizens are denied and life becomes like the hell the liberals left.
See Post 6!
You phrased it much than I did though!
The Liberal Contagion. Very much like the spread of a disease.
If they move too far out, Liberals can't survive. They are too stupid to fix their own car, change a tire if it breaks down. Any lot too big for an electric lawnmower is no good. That would require a gas mower, then challenges like pooring gas from a container, fixing the lawnmower becomes an issue. Nieghbors burning wood bothers them, so they need to be in tight enough numbers to ban woodburning, smoking in local bars, etc.
Liberals freak out when they hear guns go off during hunting season. They can't stand living where they can't do anything about it.